Minimal to Moderate Recommendations:

• Implement social distancing measures:
• Reduce activities (e.g., group congregation, religious services), especially for organizations with individuals at increased risk of severe illness.
• Consider offering video/audio of events.
• Determine ways to continue providing support services to individuals at increased risk of severe disease (services, meals, checking in) while limiting group settings and exposures.
• Cancel large gatherings (e.g., >250 people, though threshold is at the discretion of the community) or move to smaller groupings.
• For organizations that serve high-risk populations, cancel gatherings of more than 10 people.

What is coronavirus? Coronavirus is a new respiratory virus that originated in China. The virus is contagious and potentially fatal.  It is suspected that it is transmitted through coughing and sneezing by infected individuals. According to the Centers for Disease Control, coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that are common among animals.  And in rare cases can be transmitted from animals to humans. At the present time, there is no vaccine, cure or specific treatment.

How is coronavirus spread? Health authorities have not confirmed how coronavirus is transmitted but suspect it is spread from person-to-person. There is also evidence that the viruses can spread from human contact with animals. When it comes to human-to-human transmission of the viruses, often it happens when someone comes into contact with an infected person’s secretions, such as a cough, sneeze or handshake could cause exposure. The virus can also be transmitted by touching something an infected person has touched and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes. The incubation period, or the time interval from infection to onset of symptoms, is from two to 14 days. During this period, an individual can be infected and spreading the disease, although they may not be experiencing the signs and symptoms of the virus.

How many people survive coronavirus? Currently, coronavirus has a fatality rate of less than 3 percent. As such, the majority of those affected so far have survived the disease.

What are the signs and symptoms of coronavirus? The viruses can make people sick, usually with mild to moderate upper respiratory tract illness, similar to a common cold. Coronavirus symptoms include a runny nose, cough, sore throat, possibly a headache and maybe a fever, which can last for a couple of days.

For those with a weakened immune system, the elderly and the very young, there’s a chance the virus could cause a lower, and much more serious, respiratory tract illness like pneumonia or bronchitis.

How can I protect myself? Because there is currently no vaccine to prevent infection, the best way to protect yourself is to avoid exposure. The CDC recommends the following additional steps:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

What happens if I suspect I or someone I know has coronavirus? 
If you exhibit symptoms of coronavirus within two weeks of traveling from China, you should contact a health care professional and mention your recent travel. If you have had close contact with someone exhibiting coronavirus symptoms who has recently traveled from China, you should call ahead to a health care professional and mention your close contact and the person’s recent travel. Your health care professional will work with your state’s public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested for coronavirus.We will continue to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), CDC’s website and will update you as changes occur.  We are also monitoring our mission trips to determine the appropriate action to take based on the most current recommendations and information from the CDC.

In the meantime, please protect yourself by following the above recommendations. For your convenience, you will find hand sanitizers in various locations throughout the church.  Also, you should purchase individual hand sanitizers and disinfectants.

What precautions are being taken at Grace Snellville?

• Actively monitoring our short and long-term mission trips for the safety of our students
• Additional hand sanitizer placed around our church campus
• Increased the frequency of cleaning around the church
• Children’s areas and check-in stations are sanitized several times a week with eco-friendly disinfectant
• Whip Cream and Cinnamon at coffee stations removed. Only individual packets of creamers and sugars are available
• Considering ordering prepackaged communion sets
• Connecting with Gwinnett County government for additional information in our area
• Alternative methods for meet and greet
• Handouts from the CDC and Gwinnett county are located in our lobby

Questions or concerns? If you’d like to share your thoughts, concerns, questions, or ideas with us as we navigate our response to this situation, we’d love to hear from you. Your input and feedback are truly important to us. Please contact one of the Elders or the Executive Pastor, with any questions or comments.

While we cannot control the virus, spread, or the impact it has on our church, we’re doing everything we can to make this campus as safe and clean as possible. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to help us do just that. We must also remember that God has not called us to live in fear, but in faith. As the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For the Spirit of God does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” My prayer is that God will fill us all with these three gifts, no matter what comes our way.

Grace Snellville Crisis Management, Elder Board and Leadership Team