Reminder: As we announced last week, Havurah has new COVID Gathering Guidelines that allow for more people to gather in the building for more purposes while wearing higher-quality masks. Due to current Omicron conditions, this “opening” will likely be a bit slow. Think of it as a “soft opening,” – like a restaurant that starts by only opening to friends and family as it works out its recipes and routines. Over the next weeks, it will be up to each service leader, group, and organizer to decide how and when to gather in person again. We anticipate that it will take a while for services, committee meetings, activities, and events to fully return to Havurah. Click here for a longer explanation of the updated Guidelines, along with a Q&A.
Update: Since last week, we have added KF94 masks as an allowable mask choice for adults ages 18 and over.
Summary of new vaccination, testing, and masking requirements:
Vaccination and testing. Individuals ages five and over who are participating in an indoor Havurah event or activity must be fully vaccinated or (if medically ineligible for vaccination) have a negative COVID test.
~ A negative COVID test means a negative antigen test within 24 hours of being in the building, or a negative PCR test within 48 hours.
~ Honor system - this vaccination and testing requirement is to be administered on an honor system.
~ Shabbat School exception - Children ages 5 to 11 are not required to be vaccinated or tested prior to attending Shabbat School classes or Shabbat School sponsored activities. Note: for any other indoor Havurah-sponsored activity, event, or service, children ages 5 to 11 are required to be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID test. See the explanation for this here in the longer article Q&A.
Masking. Adults aged 18 and over must wear KN95, a KF94 (new!) or N95 masks during indoor activities; individuals under the age of 18 may wear a well-fitted cloth or disposable mask.
~ Until February 25, 2022, this mandatory masking rule shall also apply to all individuals on the bima during services.
~ Masking requirements (bima and otherwise) will be reassessed in mid-February 2022 and periodically thereafter.
Note: KN95 masks have been purchased for the synagogue and will be available to those who are in the building who did not bring their own N95, KN95, or KF94 mask.
The full text of updated Guidelines can be found here on the Havurah website.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns about any COVID policy issues, please send an email to info@havurahshalom.org. Your email will be shared with the COVID Management Team and one of the members will get back to you.