COVID-19 Checklist for Faith-Based and Community Organizations
This information was released by the Ohio Department of Health on August 15, 2020. For additional information, please visit the Ohio Covid Portal. On November 5, 2020, the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives released Communication for Faith-Based Communities available here: 11 06 2020 Faith Based Organizations to help mosques and other faith-based organizations communicate responsibly about COVID-19 with their membership.
Below is a list of some recommendations for all faith-based and community organizations from the Ohio Department of Health. For more information, click here:
• Hold remote/online meetings for gatherings, including regular religious services and holiday/special services.
• If any in-person services must be held, implement practices to keep all people, including staff and volunteers, 6 feet apart.
• Refrain from practices that involve the sharing/passing of common items or close contact with other individuals.
• Discourage people over 60 from attending. Ask members to refrain from shaking hands and hugging. Provide adequate supplies of soap and water, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes.
• Postpone or cancel events, programs, services, retreats, and children’s activities as much as possible. This includes any off-site gatherings or gatherings in members’ homes.
• Offer online payment options for donations or membership dues.
• Share messages about COVID-19 only from credible sources. Increase use of text and social media communication strategies.
• Continue to offer needed social services, using practices that reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. Avoid providing services in group gatherings.
• Strive to advocate for the vulnerable and marginalized to help ensure they receive appropriate and available resources as needed.
• Ramp up environmental cleaning, especially after any events, if held.
• Allow as many employees as possible to work from home. If employees are on site, strive to ensure that they remain at least 6 feet apart. Use similar procedures to also distance any in-person volunteers.
COVID-19 Messaging for Mosques and Faith-Based Organizations
• Cases are spiking in Ohio and are at an all-time high. But we can defeat COVID-19 by sticking to the basics (masks, social distancing, hand washing) and protecting the most vulnerable.
• A key tradition in our faith community is helping each other. One way to show that we care is to wear a mask. This greatly reduces the risk of spreading this virus.
Ways Community Leaders can help
• Post on social media to describe how you are working to keep your employees and customers safe (and what they can do to help you maintain a safe environment) using the suggested hashtags.
• Develop a COVID-19 Resource page for your website and share that page on social media using the suggested hashtags.
For the complete list of recommendations, please click here. For answers to your COVID-19 questions, call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).