In response to the rising numbers on positive COVID-19 cases and the hospitalization crisis, the Archdiocese of Baltimore has declared new COVID-19 protocols for all parishes effective Dec. 29, 2021, until Jan. 31, 2022.
Similarly, a declaration of a state of emergency in Baltimore County was issued Dec. 27 by Health Officer Gregory W. Branch and Baltimore County Executive John A. Olszewski Jr. enforcing masking mandates in public areas and noting alarming statistics of COVID-19 infections.
Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori noted that the archdiocese and the COVID-19 Task Force are closely monitoring rates of positive cases, trends and developments locally and abroad to ensure the safety of all individuals, while making progress.
“Now more than ever, it is important we remember to care for our health and safety and of those around us,” Archbishop Lori said.
The following guidelines apply to all parishes in the archdiocese until Jan. 31, 2022, unless specified differently:
- Every individual of five years of age and older must wear a face covering inside a church in Baltimore County and Howard County.
- If additional counties or the state implement a masking order, all parishes must comply with such orders.
- Liturgical ministers and clergy at all parishes in the archdiocese are required to wear masks, except when speaking publicly.
- Parishes are to make a full and good faith effort to encourage all attendees to be masked while attending Mass.
- Parish campuses should have proper signage regarding mask requirements.
- Ministries and non-liturgical parish activities should be carefully evaluated and, if possible, held virtually or with limited contact.
- This effort includes third-party use of facilities, such as Scouts, community groups and other gatherings.
- For remaining in-person ministry activities, masking is required for all participants along with proper hand sanitization and social distancing (a minimum of three feet).
- Individual third-party users of facilities for events scheduled during January may proceed as planned. However, parishes should not accept any new requests for the month. Any events reserved after January should include the stipulation that the parish has the option to cancel the event due to COVID-19 safety concerns.
- The Catholic Center will provide support to parishes remotely.
- Parishes should consider rescheduling in-person social gatherings scheduled for January, February or later in the year.
- During liturgical celebrations, each parish is to carefully evaluate the logistics of continuing with choirs.
- If parishes determine the choir can safely perform, then the parish can continue with choirs.
- If a parish is concerned about the feasibility, then the parish should use only a single cantor.
- Parishes must carefully adhere to proper hand sanitization following the distribution of communion on the tongue. Alcohol spray is suggested.
- Parishes may continue to offer holy water available in fonts.
- Filled hand sanitizing dispensers should be available at entrances, next to holy water fonts, and other areas of the property.
- Each parish should effectively communicate safety measures to parishioners and visitors via social media, email, Flocknote, website, bulletin and Mass announcements.
According to the order for public safety, as of Dec. 25, Baltimore County’s seven-day positivity rate is 18.2 percent, whereas the current statewide seven-day COVID-19 positivity average increased from 4.36 percent to 15.85 percent from Nov. 26 to Dec. 25.
Over a one-month period, Baltimore County and the state of Maryland had a total increase of seven-day COVID-19 positivity average of 268 percent and 264 percent respectively.
The number of daily COVID-19 hospitalizations in Baltimore County increased from 62 to 205 patients from Nov. 26 to Dec. 26, an increase of 231 percent.
As of Dec. 26, intensive care units countywide are at 87.25 percent of capacity, leaving only 13 ICU-beds available in all of Baltimore County, whereas ICUs statewide are at 89 percent of capacity.
The seven-day average of daily hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Baltimore County increased from 62 to 178.86 from Nov. 26 to Dec. 26, a total increase of 188.5 percent over a one-month period.
Although the ongoing issuing and lifting of Covid-19 mandates might be exhausting to follow, taking safety measures has been proven to prevent the spread of the virus.
“In times of trial, especially long struggles, we see just how resilient we are,” Archbishop Lori said. “Hopefully, the pandemic has reminded us of our need for God’s grace and our need for each other.”
Email Priscila González de Doran at pdoran@CatholicReview.org.
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