COVID-19 Prevention & Mitigation
​SMART (St. Michael's Assessment and Reopening Team) continues to Meet to review current protocols.

March 10, 2022

At their most recent meeting, SMART spent significant time reviewing CDC recommendation changes, MDH recommendation changes, positivity rates and hospitalization rates in Ramsey county, current school protocols (including recent adjustments with Roseville Area Schools), information on vaccine efficacy for 5-11 year olds, vaccine studies for children 4 years and under, and information from Dr. Mike Osterholm, infectious disease specialist from the University of Minnesota. 

SMART has approved the following protocol changes as we move into this next phase of the pandemic:

MASKS

• Starting March 19th St. Michael's will move to being mask optional*
• The team welcomes and supports all who need to wear masks or feel comfortable wearing masks to continue to do so; we also welcome those who are comfortable not wearing masks to go without.
• The church will continue to provide KN95/N95 masks to use for those who would like them.
• This will be consistent across all ages and spaces.

*We will still require St. Michael's members and staff who go into the Northern Voices side of the building during weekday school hours and when Northern Voices staff and students are present to wear masks until further notice.
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WORSHIP 

• The first Sunday of April (April 3) we will move to Continuous Communion in worship
• We will come forward in a line (we ask that people maintain a 3' distance between those in front of and behind them), receiving bread and wine/juice in small cups.
• Those who prefer to commune in the pews may do so using the pre-packaged communion elements available near the Sanctuary entrance. The team will evaluate over the coming weeks about when to return to communion around the altar.
• On April 10th, we welcome the return of the Children's PrayGround in worship located at the back of the sanctuary. This space is for young children (accompanied by at least one adult) in worship to engage in age appropriate activities to enrich their worship experience. We will assess the need for regular nursery care in the coming months. 

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FOOD & FELLOWSHIP 

• Light refreshments and food can be served at coffee hour and community gatherings
• Coffee hours between services will likely begin after Easter, dependent on congregational volunteers

There is a strong sense by SMART that we are on the "off-ramp" of the pandemic. That being said, SMART will continue to gauge positivity rates and CDC/MDH resources to make sure that protocols continue to stay in line with recommendations for our area/county. Should adjustments be needed we will let the congregation know.

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