News
Protecting diocesan employees and volunteers as they continue to serve communities
The Jefferson City diocese is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy workspace for employees and visitors while ensuring as much continuity as possible during for parishes, schools and other charitable services during the COVID-19 emergency.
Therefore, parishes are directed to implement the following protocol, if not already in place:
- limit or eliminate outside visitors, interacting by phone or e-mail whenever possible;
- clean frequently touched surfaces every hour;
- provide alcohol-based hand-sanitizers in workspaces and common areas;
- have everyone arrive and leave through one entrance;
- screen with an infrared thermometer all people who enter; and
- enforce having no more than 10 people in a space or room at any time.
All employees are directed to comply with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations, which include:
- wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with warm, soapy water;
- maintain at least 6 feet distance from other people;
- avoid people who are sick with any respiratory symptoms;
- stay home when sick; call a healthcare provider ahead of time and get tested if showing signs of COVID-19; and
- follow the healthcare provider’s instructions and self-quarantine for 14 days if the test is positive.
Telephone and videoconferencing should be encouraged instead of face-to-face meetings.
Employees should work from home as much as possible, with parishes allowing for use of sick time and vacation, staggered work schedules, and work-from-home options.
Parishes and schools should make creative use of technology to stay in touch with students, parents, parishioners, volunteers and benefactors and to facilitate long-distance learning.
Through all of this, parishes and schools must continue in finding ways to proclaim the good news, educate people, provide creative new catechesis opportunities and engage volunteers.
Visit diojeffcity.org/public-health for more information.