Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Masks:

• IAW Gov. Northam’s updated guidance effective May 28, masks are no longer required for fully vaccinated people (2 weeks after receiving 2nd dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or single dose of J&J).
• Vaccinated people may still continue to wear a mask if they are more comfortable doing so; it is your own personal choice.
• We ask anyone not fully vaccinated to please wear a mask if you choose to attend temple events. This is for your own protection, as well as the protection of fellow congregants who are unable to receive the vaccine yet due to age or other factors.
• Masks should be worn by all people who are in the building when Montessori School is in session (weekdays until 6 PM) due to Montessori masking requirements. 

Resumption of in-person religious services and events:

• Full in-person services are planned to resume by Fall.
• During the Summer we plan a ‘soft opening’ with monthly in-person services June-July and weekly services starting at a point TBD in August.
• All capacity restrictions are now lifted.
• We are aiming to restore food service at the temple and the resumption of Oneg Shabbat in Fall, with appropriate health and safety protocols in place.
• During the summer limited food service will be allowed on a case-by-case basis with the first priority being to assure the safety of our congregants. For that reason, there will not be food served where young children are expected to be present.
• Food may be served at private rental events in accordance with BCRC rental policies.

Continuation of streaming of services:

• The Reopening Committee will seek to establish a group of rotating volunteers to provide weekly streaming of services for those unable to attend as long as needed, and to put in place procedures to make streaming easy for volunteers.
• Applying ‘lesson learned’ from the pandemic which showed that by streaming services we were able to expand our services’ reach to new audiences such as out-of-town members and guests, families with young children and other people unable to physically attend, our intent is to continue periodic streaming of services (possibly monthly) even after population is fully vaccinated.

Religious School:

• Religious school will follow the protocols in effect for the Loudoun County School District.
• At this time, we are planning for a full resumption of in-person religious school with no ‘hybrid’ option. We will continue to monitor the situation and will make a final decision later this summer.
• Policies will be established for snacks to be safely resumed for students.