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Good morning and welcome to COVID Communiqué 21. Like you, we’re all watching the increasing COVID-19 infection rates with concern and focusing on keeping our parishioners and communities as safe as possible. That includes working on an update of the pandemic plan to be released next month—but not much to report to you this week. 

We’ll just take a moment, however, to remind you that after October 1 parishes can seek permission to increase the number of people permitted to attend in-person Amber-stage worship. 

As we mentioned last week, this isn’t an option for every church. If one-third of your church’s capacity is less than 50, the number of people who can be present won’t change. You must ask permission before making the change, and it’s possible you won’t automatically be able to admit one-third of capacity, because the physical distancing standard of two metres between people from different households must be maintained. As well, if your municipality or health region sets a different limit, that comes first. 

Remember, if you don’t feel ready to expand your gatherings, you don’t have to. You know your church best. If you’d like to talk about this, send a note to C19helpdesk@ottawa.anglican.ca. That, of course, is also the way to reach us with any questions or comments you might have. 

COVID Communiqué is produced by our senior staff: 
Shane Parker, Bishop
Beth Bretzlaff, Dean
Linda Hill, Executive Archdeacon
Sanjay Grover, Director of Financial Ministry
Peter John Hobbs, Director of Community Ministries
Jane Scanlon, Director of Stewardship Development
Carol Sinclair, Director of Human Resources