Entire IGRC enters mitigation

10/27/2020

This story is being frequently updated as new announcements are made.

Last Updated: 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10

Region 2 (Illinois, Spoon and Vermilion River districts)

 

Announcement on COVID-19 Mitigations for Public Health Region 2 including churches in Illinois River, Spoon River and Vermilion River Districts

Due to increased regional transmission of COVID-19 the Illinois Department of Public Health announced increased mitigation guidance for public health Region 2 (North-central Illinois area). Region 2 includes Bureau, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Kendall, Knox, La Salle, Livingston, Marshall, McDonough, McLean, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, and Woodford counties.

Effective 12:01 am on Weds, Nov 4, for Region 2 there will be new mitigation requirements for bars, restaurants, sports, and gathering size. You can read the mitigation document and see the IDPH tracking metrics here: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics?regionID=2.

Of particular note for churches is the mitigation restriction on gathering size to “limit to the lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity.” This applies to all church gatherings except for regular worship. The Illinois Great Rivers Conference is recommending but not requiring that our churches in this Public Health Region limit their indoor worship services to the lesser of 25 people or 25% of room capacity.

Per local public health officials, all other church activities, including funerals and weddings, should follow these lower limits, but worship services may continue with Phase 4 guidance on larger-sized indoor gatherings. Local public health officials are still encouraging caution and requesting that churches be diligent in slowing the spread of COVID-19. This continues to be ongoing public health emergency, and increased viral spread poses the risk of increased illnesses, increased deaths, and increased interruptions to in-person church gatherings.

Detailed recommendations can be found at the IGRC safety guidance document “Pressing On,” found at https://www.igrc.org/coronavirus. Our recommendations are in keeping with our guiding principles of doing no harm by continuing to exercise caution and support public health efforts at limiting viral spread.

If you have additional questions, please contact your District Superintendent or Director of Connectional Ministries, Curtis Brown at cbrown@igrc.org.

Region 3 (Sangamon River and LaMoine River districts)

Due to increased regional transmission of COVID-19 the Illinois Department of Public Health announced increased mitigation guidance for public health Region 3 (West-central Illinois area). Region 3 includes Hancock, Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Jersey, Greene, Scott, Brown, Schuyler, Cass, Morgan, Macoupin, Montgomery, Christian, Sangamon, Logan, Menard, and Mason counties.

From their statement:Pandemic map for Illinois 10/26/2020
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are announcing COVID-19 resurgence mitigations will be implemented in Region 3—West-Central Illinois—beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2020. The region has seen a 7-day rolling average test positivity rate of 8 percent or above for three consecutive days, which exceeds the thresholds set for establishing mitigation measures under the state's Restore Illinois Resurgence Plan. Region 3 includes Hancock, Adams, Pike, Calhoun, Jersey, Greene, Scott, Brown, Schuyler, Cass, Morgan, Macoupin, Montgomery, Christian, Sangamon, Logan, Menard, and Mason counties.

Effective 12:01 am on Sunday, Nov 1, for Region 3 there will be new mitigation requirements for bars, restaurants, sports, and gathering size. You can read the mitigation document and see the IDPH tracking metrics here: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics?regionID=3.

Of particular note for churches is the mitigation restriction on gathering size to “limit to the lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity.” This applies to all church gatherings except for regular worship. The Illinois Great Rivers Conference is recommending but not requiring that our churches in this Public Health Region limit their indoor worship services to the lesser of 25 people or 25% of room capacity.

Per local public health officials, all other church activities, including funerals and weddings, should follow these lower limits, but worship services may continue with Phase 4 guidance on larger-sized indoor gatherings. Local public health officials are still encouraging caution and requesting that churches be diligent in slowing the spread of COVID-19. This continues to be ongoing public health emergency, and increased viral spread poses the risk of increased illnesses, increased deaths, and increased interruptions to in-person church gatherings.

This new limit supersedes the Phase 4 recommendations found in our Illinois Great Rivers Conference “Coming Back to the Heart of Worship” guidance (https://www.igrc.org/coronavirus). Our recommendations are in keeping with our guiding principles of doing no harm by continuing to exercise caution and support public health efforts at limiting viral spread.
If you have additional questions, please contact your District Superintendent or Director of Connectional Ministries, Curtis Brown at cbrown@igrc.org

Region 4 (Mississippi River District)

Due to increased regional transmission of COVID-19 the Illinois Department of Public Health announced increased mitigation guidance for public health Region 4 (Metro East area). Region 4 includes Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, and Washington counties.

Here’s their statement:
Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are announcing COVID-19 resurgence mitigations will be implemented in Regions 4 and 10, which encompass Metro East and Suburban Cook County respectively, beginning at 12:01 am on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. Region 4 has had a 7-day rolling average test positivity rate of 8 percent or above for three consecutive days… The sustained increases seen in the regions exceed the thresholds set for establishing mitigation measures under the state's Restore Illinois Resurgence Plan.

Effective 12:01 am on Wednesday, Oct 28, for Region 4 there will be new mitigation requirements for bars, restaurants, sports, and gathering size. You can read the whole document here: https://www2.illinois.gov/Pages/news-item.aspx.... The IDPH tracking metrics for Region 4 here: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics?regionID=4.
Of particular note for churches is the mitigation restriction on gathering size to “limit to the lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity.” The applies to all church gatherings except for regular worship. The Illinois Great Rivers Conference is recommending but not requiring that our churches in this Public Health Region limit their indoor worship services to the lesser of 25 people or 25% of room capacity.

Per local public health officials, all other church activities, including funerals and weddings, should follow these lower limits, but worship services may continue with Phase 4 guidance on larger-sized indoor gatherings. Local public health officials are still encouraging caution and requesting that churches be diligent in slowing the spread of COVID-19. This continues to be ongoing public health emergency, and increased viral spread poses the risk of increased illnesses, increased deaths, and increased interruptions to in-person church gatherings.

This new limit supersedes the Phase 4 recommendations found in our Illinois Great Rivers Conference “Coming Back to the Heart of Worship” guidance (https://www.igrc.org/coronavirus). Our recommendations are in keeping with our guiding principles of doing no harm by continuing to exercise caution and support public health efforts at limiting viral spread.
In order to help inform our church leaders, the IGRC is hosting a video conference Q & A Session on Weds Oct 28 at 11:00 am. You can join the video conference through this link: https://call.lifesizecloud.com/3160878. If you have additional questions, please contact your District Superintendent or Director of Connectional Ministries, Curtis Brown at cbrown@igrc.org.

Region 5 (Cache River and Kaskaskia River districts)

Due to increased regional transmission of COVID-19 the Illinois Department of Public Health announced increased Tier 2 mitigation guidance for public health Region 5 (Southern Illinois) which includes Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, White and Williamson counties,
.
Effective 12:01 am on Weds, Nov 11, there will be new mitigation requirements for bars, restaurants, sports, and gathering size. You can read the mitigation document and see the IDPH tracking metrics here: https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/.../restore-illinois....

Of particular note for churches is the mitigation restriction on gathering size to “limit to 10 guests in both indoor and outdoor settings.” This applies to all church gatherings, including weddings and funerals, but does not apply to regular weekly worship services. The Illinois Great Rivers Conference is strongly recommending but not requiring that our churches in these Public Health Regions limit their indoor worship services to the lesser of 25 people or 25% of room capacity.

Public health officials are encouraging caution and requesting that churches be diligent in slowing the spread of COVID-19. This continues to be an ongoing public health emergency, and increased viral spread poses the risk of increased illnesses, increased deaths, and increased interruptions to in-person church gatherings. All IGRC churches are asked to review and fully implement safe gathering practices and voluntarily comply with all additional requests from local authorities to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Detailed recommendations can be found at the IGRC safety guidance document “Pressing On,” found at https://www.igrc.org/coronavirus. Our recommendations are in keeping with our guiding principles of doing no harm by continuing to exercise caution and support public health efforts at limiting viral spread. If you have additional questions, please contact your District Superintendent or Director of Connectional Ministries, Curtis Brown at cbrown@igrc.org.

Region 6 (Iroquois River, Embarras River and a portion of the Kaskaskia River districts)

Due to increased regional transmission of COVID-19 the Illinois Department of Public Health announced increased mitigation guidance for public health Region 6 (East-central Illinois area). Region 6 includes Iroquois, Ford, Dewitt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermillion, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, Edgar, Shelby, Coles, Cumberland, Clark, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland, and Lawrence counties.

From their statement:

Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are announcing COVID-19 resurgence mitigations will be implemented in Region 6—East-Central Illinois—beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, November 2, 2020. The region has seen a 7-day rolling average test positivity rate of 8 percent or above for three consecutive days, which exceeds the thresholds set for establishing mitigation measures under the state's Restore Illinois Resurgence Plan. Region 6 includes Iroquois, Ford, Dewitt, Piatt, Champaign, Vermillion, Macon, Moultrie, Douglas, Edgar, Shelby, Coles, Cumberland, Clark, Fayette, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Clay, Richland, and Lawrence counties.

Effective 12:01 am on Monday, Nov 2, for Region 6 there will be new mitigation requirements for bars, restaurants, sports, and gathering size. You can read the mitigation document and see the IDPH tracking metrics here: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics?regionID=6.

Of particular note for churches is the mitigation restriction on gathering size to “limit to the lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity.” This applies to all church gatherings except for regular worship. The Illinois Great Rivers Conference is recommending but not requiring that our churches in this Public Health Region limit their indoor worship services to the lesser of 25 people or 25% of room capacity.

Per local public health officials, all other church activities, including funerals and weddings, should follow these lower limits, but worship services may continue with Phase 4 guidance on larger-sized indoor gatherings. Local public health officials are still encouraging caution and requesting that churches be diligent in slowing the spread of COVID-19. This continues to be ongoing public health emergency, and increased viral spread poses the risk of increased illnesses, increased deaths, and increased interruptions to in-person church gatherings.

This new limit supersedes the Phase 4 recommendations found in our Illinois Great Rivers Conference “Coming Back to the Heart of Worship” guidance (https://www.igrc.org/coronavirus). Our recommendations are in keeping with our guiding principles of doing no harm by continuing to exercise caution and support public health efforts at limiting viral spread.

If you have additional questions, please contact your District Superintendent or Director of Connectional Ministries, Curtis Brown at cbrown@igrc.org.

Region 7 (Vermilion River District)

Due to increased regional transmission of COVID-19 the Illinois Department of Public Health announced increased Tier 2 mitigation guidance for public health Region 7 (Kankakee) which includes Kankakee and Will counties.

Effective 12:01 am on Weds, Nov 11, there will be new mitigation requirements for bars, restaurants, sports, and gathering size. You can read the mitigation document and see the IDPH tracking metrics here: https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/.../restore-illinois....

Of particular note for churches is the mitigation restriction on gathering size to “limit to 10 guests in both indoor and outdoor settings.” This applies to all church gatherings, including weddings and funerals, but does not apply to regular weekly worship services. The Illinois Great Rivers Conference is strongly recommending but not requiring that our churches in these Public Health
Regions limit their indoor worship services to the lesser of 25 people or 25% of room capacity.

Public health officials are encouraging caution and requesting that churches be diligent in slowing the spread of COVID-19. This continues to be an ongoing public health emergency, and increased viral spread poses the risk of increased illnesses, increased deaths, and increased interruptions to in-person church gatherings. All IGRC churches are asked to review and fully implement safe gathering practices and voluntarily comply with all additional requests from local authorities to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Detailed recommendations can be found at the IGRC safety guidance document “Pressing On,” found at https://www.igrc.org/coronavirus. Our recommendations are in keeping with our guiding principles of doing no harm by continuing to exercise caution and support public health efforts at limiting viral spread. If you have additional questions, please contact your District Superintendent or Director of Connectional Ministries, Curtis Brown at cbrown@igrc.org.