COVID-19 Policy Update
Updated May 14, 2021
As many of you are aware, the CDC changed its guidance around masks on Thursday, May 13, 2021. The state of Pennsylvania quickly adopted this new guidance that states that those who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear masks while indoors in most settings.
Throughout the pandemic, Connection Church has voluntarily done our best to align our health and safety policies with our governing authorities. In the State of Pennsylvania, our governor has always maintained that churches are not required to comply with these health mandates. Additionally, Gov. Wolf has communicated that once 70% of eligible adults are vaccinated across the state, he is planning to lift all mask mandates for our state.
Currently, in Chester County, where our church is located, close to 75% of the eligible adult population has been vaccinated. We also draw heavily from Montgomery County and they have vaccinated about 68% of their eligible adult population.
In consideration of all of these factors, our leadership team has determined that it is appropriate that masks be optional from this point forward. We know there will be many of us who will continue to wear a mask, including children and teens. Please know that we support and stand with you in your decision.
We continue to ask that if you are showing any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been directly exposed to someone who has tested positive and you are unvaccinated that you would refrain from worshipping with us in person and participate online during your quarantine period.
As your pastor, I want to ask all of us to show charity and humility towards one another around this very divisive issue. We understand that some may disagree and we respect that. However, in light of the falling case counts in our area, the number of us who have recovered from infection, the current vaccination rate in our county, the slowing spread of the virus, and our online option for worship, we thought it was prudent to move in this direction.
Pastor Joe
Throughout the pandemic, Connection Church has voluntarily done our best to align our health and safety policies with our governing authorities. In the State of Pennsylvania, our governor has always maintained that churches are not required to comply with these health mandates. Additionally, Gov. Wolf has communicated that once 70% of eligible adults are vaccinated across the state, he is planning to lift all mask mandates for our state.
Currently, in Chester County, where our church is located, close to 75% of the eligible adult population has been vaccinated. We also draw heavily from Montgomery County and they have vaccinated about 68% of their eligible adult population.
In consideration of all of these factors, our leadership team has determined that it is appropriate that masks be optional from this point forward. We know there will be many of us who will continue to wear a mask, including children and teens. Please know that we support and stand with you in your decision.
We continue to ask that if you are showing any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been directly exposed to someone who has tested positive and you are unvaccinated that you would refrain from worshipping with us in person and participate online during your quarantine period.
As your pastor, I want to ask all of us to show charity and humility towards one another around this very divisive issue. We understand that some may disagree and we respect that. However, in light of the falling case counts in our area, the number of us who have recovered from infection, the current vaccination rate in our county, the slowing spread of the virus, and our online option for worship, we thought it was prudent to move in this direction.
Pastor Joe