Novel Coronavirus Information

13/03/2020 – Updated Novel Coronavirus Information and Policy for Chatswood Baptist Church

At Chatswood Baptist Church we are keen to ensure that we are doing everything possible to look after the health and wellbeing of our entire Church community. The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was identified in China during a respiratory illness outbreak in Wuhan which started in late 2019. It causes severe respiratory illness. Human to human transmission is most likely to be through direct contact with infectious patients.[1] On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

We will continue to monitor the advice of the Australian government health departments and update this page as new information comes to light.

There are currently 92 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in NSW. Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, sore throat, cough and shortness of breath. It is thought to take up to 14 days for the virus to incubate.

Chatswood Baptist Church has adopted a COVID-19 (Novel coronavirus) policy based on the recommendations of the NSW Health Department and the Australian Government’s Department of Health.

 Please read and follow the Updated Chatswood Baptist Church COVID-19 policy and information below:

Text Box: Chatswood Baptist Church novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Policy Updated 13 March, 2020 1. Anyone who has visited China (including Hong Kong) Since 1 February, Iran since 1 March or Italy or Republic of Korea (South Korea) since 5 March is asked not to attend Church for a period of 14 days after returning to Australia. The coronavirus’ incubation period can be as long as two weeks. 2. Anyone who has a Confirmed case of Novel Coronavirus – is to be excluded from Church until medically cleared with a doctor's certificate. 3. Anyone who has had close contact of a confirmed case of Novel Coronavirus – is to be excluded for 14 days since last contact with the confirmed case. (Close contact is defined as living in the same household, 15 minutes face-to-face contact with a person with confirmed coronavirus in any setting, or sharing a closed space with a person with confirmed coronavirus for more than 2 hours.) 4. If you have any flu like symptoms, including fever, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath, please do not attend Church until the symptoms have stopped. 5. Chatswood Baptist Church will be asking that everyone uses the provided hand sanitizer as they enter the building. 6. Please avoid shaking hands and skin to skin contact where possible. 7. Please cover any cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the bin. 8. Morning Tea will now be served as individual portions using tongs or serving implements. Please wait to be served at morning tea. 9. All food served at any Church event is to be served according to our COVID-19 food handling policy. 10. All food serving surfaces will be disinfected before and after use. 11. All handles and rails are to be sprayed with disinfectant or wiped down with disinfectant between groups or services.

 

 

Further information and updates are available via NSW Health website:

Factsheet: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/alerts/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

FAQs: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/alerts/Pages/coronavirus-faqs.aspx

The Department of Health, Novel Coronavirus: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cdna-song-novel-coronavirus.htm

 

Mark Penn – 13 March 2020

[1] https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/novel-coronavirus.aspx