Effective April 20, 2023, masks are optional indoors at Mountain Light gatherings since the COVID-19 Community Level in Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens counties is LOW.
MLUUC Protocol for COVID Exposure
The MLUUC Board of Directors adopted the following policy on May 16, 2022.
- If you have attended an MLUUC event and have symptoms or test positive for COVID within 2-3 days of attendance:
To remain in covenant with one another, it is of the utmost importance that you notify Alison Hite (at drhite247@gmail.com) immediately upon realizing that you may have potentially infected other people at MLUUC. If you know the names of people with whom you have been in close contact*, please let Alison know those names.
The people with whom the infected person came into close contact with will be notified via email. In addition, a special newsletter will go out to the congregation indicating the date and event at which they may have possibly been infected. The subject line of these emails will be MLUUC COVID ALERT. Be assured that we will keep your identity confidential. - If you believe you may have been infected with COVID, please follow the CDC guidance found here.
*Close contacts are defined by the CDC as “people you have been around (less than 6 feet away for a combined total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) during the two-day period before you first had symptoms OR if you do not have symptoms, two days before you were tested for COVID-19, through to the time you started isolation.” This definition is from here on the CDC web site, as of 5/12/2022). Please be advised that hugging for any period of time is considered close contact.
Protocols for Attendance at MLUUC Activities
On July 30, 2022 (with a modest additional change on August 15, 2022), the MLUUC Board of Directors modified our pandemic protocols, in a manner consistent with current CDC recommendations, to:
- Require the wearing of a mask indoors at all times at Mountain Light gatherings whenever the COVID-19 Community Level in Gilmer County (or in either of neighboring Fannin and Pickens Counties) is “High.”
- Provide for the optional wearing of a mask indoors at Mountain Light gatherings whenever the COVID-19 Community Level in each of Gilmer, Fannin and Pickens counties are “Low” or “Medium.” When masks are optional, we encourage and welcome all persons in attendance to wear their own mask if this is their preference.
Notice of whether a mask is required or optional, based on CDC’s published COVID-19 Community Levels, will be communicated via our electronic newsletter. To be added to this newsletter, send an email to newsletter@mluuc.org.
With respect to pandemic safety, the Unitarian Universalist Association says “The best we can do at any given time is to lean in to our values as well as draw on the gifts and wisdom of our own people.” This pandemic protocol reflects the best efforts of the Board to carefully consider complicated facts and circumstances and to align with our UU Principles and values.
We strongly encourage all persons who attend indoor gatherings to be fully vaccinated (where possible). In addition, we strongly encourage those who are unvaccinated – for whatever reason (including children) – and those who are not comfortable attending where others are not wearing masks – to participate in our Sunday Worship Services via Zoom. Certain other activities and meetings are also still available via Zoom (see our calendar here or sign up for our newsletter here for more details).
This Pandemic Protocol applies to all indoor gatherings.
The Board will continue to monitor CDC recommendations and local public health information and will update this Pandemic Protocol as needed.
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SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES
Please be aware that Presenters and Service Leaders have the option to appear virtually or physically; therefore, they may or may not be in the building. Either way, we will continue to stream our services live via Zoom for the foreseeable future, and the Zoom program will be displayed on our monitors at the church.
Please join us from home if you have any flu-like or COVID-like symptoms.
Our Fellowship begins at 10:00 AM with coffee and more. We also gather socially after the service.
Please note that we are unable to guarantee that you will not be exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Therefore, by entering our building, you voluntarily assume all risks related to COVID-19 exposure and agree not to hold MLUUC liable for any illness or injury. Be responsible. Be safe.