What We Know About COVID-19

There is a rapidly expanding body of scientific knowledge about COVID-19. Experts agree that COVID-19 will be in the US for the foreseeable future, with fluctuating levels of infection in the community. Until a vaccine is available, the virus and the disease will be a threat to our community health. In considering how to resume in-person ministries, the following information is important to state:

  • COVID-19 can be transmitted before a person develops symptoms. This explains why the virus spreads so easily and stealthily, greatly complicating efforts to contain its spread.

  • Not every infected person will infect another person; factors that impact transmission include infectiousness of the COVID-19 carrier, actions that increase the release of respiratory droplets and aerosols into the surrounding air, proximity to an infected person (within six feet is considered high risk), time spent in an enclosed environment with limited ventilation to the outside, amount of time spent with an infected person, and type of social network (e.g., intergenerational). In settings where a greater number of these factors are present, the risk of transmission will be higher.

  • There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

  • Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like hypertension, obesity, heart or lung disease, diabetes or asthma seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness (see CDC resources for specific conditions). 

  • Because older adults are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 and children are less likely to display symptoms, intergenerational contact should be minimized to reduce COVID-19 transmission. It is important to note that children who have been infected have developed complications from COVID-19, so we must remain diligent to reduce exposure to children as well.

  • Younger adults with common chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and autoimmune disease also have an increased risk of serious complications. In fact, nearly 60 percent of COVID-19 hospital admissions in the US are for those under 65 years old.

  • Every person has a role to play. So much of protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense.  (Proverbs 3:21)

  • The relaxation of state and county guidelines will encourage residents to resume activities which could increase their exposure. This increase can be mitigated by extensive testing, effective contact tracing, and quarantining of contacts. Our state and county do not yet have the testing capacity and the trained personnel to carry out effective tracing and quarantining.

Vulnerable Populations

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people of all ages can be infected by COVID-19. Older people (65 years and older), people living in a nursing home or long-term care facility, and people with pre-existing medical conditions -- asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes, liver disease, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, severe obesity, and those who have an impaired immune system all appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

Social Distancing

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines “social distancing” as keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home. The CDC defines “keeping space” as staying at least six (6) feet from other people.

Fever

The CDC considers a person to have a fever when he or she has a measured temperature of at least 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though measured temperature is the preferred and most accurate method to determine fever, it is not always possible to do this. In certain situations, other methods of detecting a possible fever should be considered, including self-reported history of feeling feverish, or the appearance of a flushed face, glassy eyes, or chills if it is not feasible to touch the person or if the person does not report feeling feverish.