TAA Covid-19 Protocols
Last updated: January 5, 2021
Given the current state of the pandemic, our physician advisory group has recommended that our COVID protocols be updated. These recommendations have been accepted by the Temple Reopening Committee and incorporated into the protocols on our website.
These updated protocols allow the Temple to remain open for essential religious observances and for religious instruction at the Sylvia Cohen Family Learning Project.
The advising physicians feel that the number of COVID cases is particularly high now and that there is currently significant risk to any type of gathering. The risk may be mitigated somewhat by requiring proof of full vaccination including booster dosing, by the use of higher quality masks, and also by decreasing the number of individuals entering the Temple. It is always safer to meet via Zoom or outdoors, when possible. It is strongly recommended that non-essential and non-religious activities not take place in the Temple at this time.
Vaccination Requirements
The definition of “full vaccination” now includes a booster shot.
Documentation of two doses of Moderna or Pfizer or one dose of J&J, plus one additional booster vaccination of any of these vaccines is required of every booster eligible individual entering the Temple beginning 1/15/22.
Efforts will be made ahead of time to assure that workers and contractors are fully vaccinated. If this is not possible, they should be masked and kept at least six feet from others while they are in the building.
Under special circumstances (rare), unvaccinated members or guests who have a documented negative PCR test within 72 hours may be approved for entry by the TAA president or designee.
Providing Vaccination Documentation to TAA
We are now defining “fully vaccinated” as having a booster shot if you are eligible. If you have gotten a booster since you sent in your information to the office, please update it.
There are multiple ways to provide proof of vaccination:
- Send a photo or scan of your vaccination card to office@taagloucester.org (include "POV" in the subject line.)
- Stop by the office and show your vaccination card to Jasmine.
- Send a photocopy of your card to the office.
- Show your card at the door when you attend an event.
Once you've sent your proof of vaccination to TAA, you will be added to a list so you won't have to show proof again. Even if you're not planning to attend an event or service soon, we encourage you to send in your proof of vaccination now so you won't be bothered later.
Mask Requirements
Everyone two years old and over must wear a mask when in the Temple.
It is strongly recommended that when in the building, individuals 12 and older wear higher quality masks, including surgical masks, KN95 masks and N95 masks. Cloth masks are not recommended.
Activity Requirements - Gatherings, Singing and Food
- Small indoor gatherings of 20 or fewer individuals are allowed, but only if their purpose is religious observance.
- Registration is required for events that might draw close to 20 attendees.
- All other group activities will take place on Zoom or outdoors unless there is a compelling reason for indoor, in-person gathering.
- School day meetings of more than 20 students and staff may take place in person if close adult supervision of distancing and masking is in place.
-When singing in the Temple, individuals or family groups/pods must remain 6 feet apart.
-There will be no eating in the Temple.
School Protocol Clarifications / Changes
-All school children must be vaccinated by Jan. 9, 2022.
-Events for children between two and five years old will be allowed indoors with masks with 3 feet of distancing or as much distancing as possible.
-Students and adults must maintain at least 3 foot distancing and 6 feet when singing. Members of the same household do not need to maintain distance from one another.
-Students under 12 years old must wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth at all times. Higher quality masks (N95 or KN95) are recommended if higher quality masks can’t be tolerated, cloth masks are acceptable. Adults must enforce this requirement.
-When singing during school activities, individuals or family groups/pods must remain 6 feet apart.
-There will be no eating in the Temple, including during indoor school activities.
-Adults will follow all Temple guidelines during school.
-A reminder will be sent with every school day agenda reminding students and parents that they may not attend school if they have any COVID symptoms (fever>100 degrees, chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, fatigue, headache, body aches, runny nose or congestion, new loss of sense of taste or smell), or if they meet criteria for isolation or quarantine because of COVID.
Neighborhood Shabbat
*** Due to continuing Covid-19 concerns we are not scheduling in-person Neighborhood Shabbats at this time. ***
Neighborhood Shabbats are temple functions and all temple Covid-19 protocols must be followed.
Attendees will remain outdoors except to be served food and to use the bathroom. Attendees can only enter the hosts’ home for these reasons if they are masked and maintain 6 feet of social distancing.
After the event, the host will provide a list of attendees to the Temple for contact tracing purposes.
Each attendee will pick up their own plate and silverware wrapped in a napkin. They will receive their food and proceed outside.
No one should participate in a neighborhood Shabbat if they have had close contact with a COVID-19 positive person in the previous two weeks, or if a physician or public health official has suggested that they quarantine.
No one should attend a neighborhood Shabbat who has any of the following symptoms:
- Fever > 100 degrees or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Body aches
- Runny nose or congestion
- New loss of taste or smell
- People who are at high risk should weigh the risks of participating in the neighborhood Shabbat.
Sun, January 23 2022
21 Shevat 5782
