As the nationwide concern over the swine flu (H1N1) virus mounts, the Diocese of Southwest Florida has issued policy guidelines for congregations. Download the guidelines by clicking here.

President Barack Obama recently declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency, the diocese has publishied guidance for parishes and parishioners including steps they can take to prevent spread of infectious disease.

“There is much disagreement … concerning the issue of the spread of disease through the administration and reception of the Holy Eucharist,” the guidelines note while recommending several precautions:

• All entrances to the church sanctuary should be equipped with the means to dispense hand sanitizer for everybody who enters and again when they leave the sanctuary.
• Administer the Eucharistic elements in both kinds and with a common cup. Intinction should be done by the person serving the common cup and not by the receiving individual – the intention to minimize the number of hands within the cup and to maximize the opportunity for the person administering the cup to clean using hand sanitizer.
• The passing of the Peace is another opportunity for the spreading of infectious disease. The diocese calls for clean hands and minimized body contact.

Sick should stay home
Individuals who may be sick with the flu should stay home — especially persons who lead worship, the guidelines say. Clergy in charge should conduct training for their other clergy, deacons and lay ministers so that they can lead the Holy Eucharist service as an ante-communion as far as the Peace, distribute Eucharistic elements from reserved sacramental supplies, and dismiss the people in a simple way. This practice, rather than Morning Prayer, is recommended where the Morning Prayer service is not common and well known by the congregation.

Sanitation in all food service areas is more important than ever. Restrooms, obviously, need careful cleaning. Outside groups meeting in parish facilities need to be instructed in proper procedures.

The guidelines also suggest that congregations can be prepared to take the lead if the outbreak gets worse.

“If large-scale immunization programs for the local community are needed, this is an outstanding opportunity to acquaint local residents with the parish. It is encouraged to make facilities available to public health agencies as venues for immunization,” the manual says.

“The Church Insurance representative for this diocese calls upon parishes to protect themselves against liability risks by receiving a copy of the immunization agency’s insurance police and keeping it on file.”

The guidelines, available on the diocesan web site, also include checklists and emergency contact numbers should a regional health emergency arise.

—Jim DeLa