Update—Masks Now Encouraged But Not Required

At their meeting on April 10, our congregation’s governing board made the decision to lift our long-standing mask requirement in the sanctuary.

While the board recognizes that COVID-19 remains a serious problem worldwide, they also concur with our local medical authorities at DHMC and other institutions who have stated that it now seems reasonable to make mask-wearing something we encourage, but do not require.

Despite this easing of restrictions, please help us continue to keep infection from spreading in our community by making responsible choices and supporting others as they seek to protect their health.

To aid in our infection control efforts, please be thoughtful, and follow these guidelines:

• Please ensure that anyone choosing to wear a mask during our events is supported for that action and never ridiculed or pushed to remove their mask.
• Regardless of your immune condition, COVID test result, or vaccination status, please ALWAYS wear a mask in our buildings if you are feeling unwell, have a cough, or otherwise may be likely to spread infection and/or fluids from your mouth or nose.
• Please stay home and DO NOT attend congregational events in person if you are ill with what may be an infectious disease, particularly if you have a cough or respiratory condition.
• Please put on a mask if you are asked to by someone in contact with you during congregational events.
• Please consider and agree as a group on appropriate infection risk reduction actions such as distancing, ventilation, and masking any time you are in a small group meeting or for any other reason you are in close quarters at a congregational event.
• Continue to communicate your concerns, suggestions, and questions concerning our infection control practices to our governing board at board@hartlanduu.org