Our COVID Response Plan

​Below is a summary of our different phases for reopening, with the current phase at the top. Should restrictions increase, we will consider moving back to a previous phase. Likewise we are currently working on new phases as restrictions lesson and will be provided when able.  If you have any questions about the plan indicated below, contact our church office or executive team. 

Phase 4 - Gaining Momentum

DATE TO BE DETERMINED

SUMMARY OF PHASE 4

• The building is now open to the public to use as a meeting space. It is expected that all gatherings follow the max capacity restrictions and social distancing guidelines.
• We will continue to adapt our basic facility use guidelines as restrictions change. If restrictions increase, our 4 phases become the guide as to which level of restrictions we need to operate under.
• Rooms will be cleaned by trained volunteers so that they could be utilized by another group.

FACILITY USE

• The building is now open to the public to use as a meeting space. 
• All rooms in the facility are now available for use by reservation (as able based on room size, cleaning teams coordinated, etc).
• Masks are required for those who are 6 years old or older in all rooms when attending our services. As per the MN Executive Order, anyone who is 6 years old or older are required to wear a mask when indoors. For those who forget their mask, we have some provided when you enter.
• Larger gatherings and events may resume as able. All gatherings will be expected to adapt & follow recommended size and social distancing guidelines.
• Expectations will be communicated ahead of time in regard to cleaning procedures after the gathering has ended.
• Depending on the gathering’s location in the facility, participants may be required to only enter from a specific door. Signage will be provided to help communicate this. 
• No food or drinks are to be shared among attendees. Everyone should either bring their own or the gathering provides individual portions of food and drinks that have been prepared and packaged outside of the facility. This may change as restrictions lesson
• The Church Staff and Executive Committee will work together to continue to adapt our basic facility use guidelines as restrictions change based on guidance from our local and state leaders to discern these policies moving forward. If restrictions increase, our previous phases become the guide as to which level of restrictions we need to operate under.
• Rooms will be cleaned by our volunteer COVID Cleaning team so that they could be utilized by another group. 

Phase 3 - Soft Reopening

Starting August 2

​SUMMARY OF PHASE 3

• Smaller gatherings for regularly scheduled church events and weddings/funerals may utilize the facility. 
• It is expected that all gatherings follow the max capacity restrictions and social distancing guidelines.
• Masks are required for those who are 6 years old or older in all settings when attending a gathering. 
• Rooms will be cleaned by trained volunteers so that they could be utilized by another group. 

WHAT GROUPS CAN USE THE FACILITY?

• At this time, only smaller gatherings are allowed to utilize our facility. Smaller gatherings are defined by their ability to fit in the room's max capacity requirements. Larger groups may request multiple rooms to use, but will be restricted to gathering in those rooms only. 
• We are also limiting building use during this phase to regularly scheduled church events (such as council meetings, weekly bible studies, kids programming, etc). Phase 3 is meant to operate on a small scale level in preparation for outside groups or larger gatherings (as allowed by state recommendations) to be added in Phase 4.
• All gatherings must be pre-approved with our church office and must follow the max capacity restrictions and social distancing guidelines. 
• Weddings & funerals are also allowed to utilize our facility under Phase 3 as needed. 

MAX CAPACITY FOR ROOMS

• We will continue to follow the state’s guidelines on max capacity for our room occupancy capacity. According to the MN Stay Safe Plan, phase three started June 10, 2020. This indicates that places of worship must continue to maintain 6 feet of social distance and occupancy must not exceed 50% of total capacity as indicated by the Fire Marshall, with a maximum of 250 people in a single self-contained space. 
• Room sizes will be adjusted to best fit state restrictions and social distancing guidelines as these will fluctuate over time. Our properties team will help discern the max capacity and update this with our main office. 
• Rooms not to be used during Phase 3 include: Sanctuary, Apostle Room, and Disciple Room, Fireside area (except for staff and service overflow purposes).
  

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FACILITY USE EXPECTATIONS

• All doors should be opened/closed by the gathering’s host and are to remain propped open (if able) when are primarily in use. Depending on your room assignment, you may be assigned a specific entrance and bathroom to use for cleaning purposes. 
• We encourage everyone to use hand sanitizer that will be provided as you enter the facility. 
• Masks are required for those who are 6 years old or older in all rooms when attending our services. As per the MN Executive Order, anyone who is 6 years old or older are required to wear a mask when indoors. For those who forget their mask, we have some provided when you enter.
• We encourage people to communicate regularly to everyone attending that they “assume everyone needs 6 feet of social distance until they invite you to come in closer, and do not be offended if people wish to keep their distance. This is how we can best serve one another well during this time.”
• No food or drinks are to be shared among attendees. Everyone should either bring their own or the gathering provides individual portions of food and drinks that have been prepared and packaged outside of the facility.

CLEANING PLAN 

• After a room has been used, a volunteer who has been properly trained will come in and disinfect the rooms used by the group.
• Our volunteer COVID Cleaning team will consist of 3-4 people who will be scheduled by the office to work in conjunction with the rooms being used. Training will be coordinated by the Buildings and Grounds team. This team will use the COVID Cleaning Team Checklist to make sure nothing gets missed in our cleaning procedures.
• After the rooms have been disinfected, they are now able to be utilized by another group.

Phase 2 - Worshiping Together

Starting July 5

​SUMMARY OF PHASE 2

• The Sanctuary will have a max capacity of 100 people. A livestream of our service will continue to be available online.
  
• Masks are required for those who are 6 years old or older in all rooms when attending services. 
  
• Safety Measures: Limited and socially-distanced seating, doors propped open, masks required, hand sanitizer available at all entrances, no handouts, new methods for offering and communion.
  
• During the week, the Church Office and the Library are available by appointment only. The remainder of the facility will remain locked and closed.
  

BEFORE YOU COME TO WORSHIP

• Those who are showing symptoms or who have weak immune systems are encouraged to stay home and participate through the livestream. We will continue to provide a livestream of all services for those who will be participating from home.
  
• Masks are required for those who are 6 years old or older in all rooms when attending our services. As per the MN Executive Order, anyone who is 6 years old or older are required to wear a mask when indoors. For those who forget their mask, we have some provided when you enter.

​WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT FIRST COVENANT

• All interior doors are to be opened/closed only by the hosts and will be propped open when they are primarily in use. 
  
• As people enter, everyone will be asked to sign in their family by checking in with the hosts who will take down your name and make sure that we do not reach our max capacity. 
  
• We encourage everyone to use hand sanitizer that will be provided as you enter the facility.  
  
• On Communion Sundays, we will provide professionally-packaged elements as people enter at the beginning of the service. Trash containers will be available to throw away your packaging as you exit the facility.
  
• Due to the size and layout of our Sanctuary, we are limiting the amount of people in this space to 75 guests (which is about 25% of our max capacity, whereas the MN Stay Safe Guidelines allows us to have up to 50%). Please use the entrance closest to the Sanctuary.  Because our pews are exactly 3 feet apart, every other pew will be blocked off. We have also opened up our Family Room (at the back of the Sanctuary) with chairs spread out. This room can fit an additional 24 guests. Total max capacity for worshipping upstairs then is 100 people.
  
• If we reach our max capacity, we will then have people head down to the fireside area where a livestream of the service will be setup where we can fit an additional 30 people. 
  
• ​Besides the lobby areas (outside the Sanctuary and Gym) and bathrooms, the rest of the facility will remain closed on Sunday morning. We will post signs indicating access to these rooms are off-limits. Please follow the signs indicating restricted areas and do your best to limit touch points as able. 
  

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DURING THE SERVICE

• We will communicate regularly to everyone attending that they “assume everyone needs 6 feet of social distance until they invite you to come in closer, and do not be offended if people wish to keep their distance. This is how we can best serve one another well during this time.”
  
• No coffee or snacks are to be provided or shared among attendees. Everyone should bring their own coffee if desired.
  
• Drinking fountains are disabled to eliminate another touchpoint.
  
• All bathrooms will have disinfecting wipes made available for people to clean any desired surfaces beforehand. Please remember - do not flush these wipes down the toilet!
  
• There will be no nursery or kids programming available to attendees at this time.  All kids/infants are to remain with their families throughout the service. Parents are responsible for ensuring their children follow social distancing rules. Please have these conversations with your children prior to coming. However, the nursery will be available for staff/volunteer team’s kids only (birth-3rd grade). Families that will utilize this nursery provision must pre-register ahead of time by contacting Anna Bechtold or Melissa Zenzen. Nursery teams will follow the guidelines set through our church’s approved cleaning procedures to keep this environment safe.
  
• The use of busy bags will also be discontinued at this time. We encourage families to bring their own busy bag for kids to utilize for the service.
  
• Volunteer teams will be simplified to help keep the size needed per Sunday smaller and more contained. Volunteer teams include: Sound booth team (2-3 people per service), Hosts (3-4 people per service), and Nursery (as needed). 
  

AFTER THE SERVICE ENDS

• After service ends, we ask that everyone leave the facility and continue any socially-distanced conversations outside in the parking lot.  Sanctuary seating will be dismissed from the back pews first and use the side isles to keep social distancing. 
  
• Offering will take place as a retiring offering in a basket located in both gathering spaces near the exit of the Sanctuary/Gym. You can also give online by going to our website at www.redwingfirstcov.org/give.
  
• Hosts will be available to assist you at the welcome desk (in both locations) to answer any questions you may have or assist you in filling out a connection card.
  
• After people leave, we will then quarantine these sections of the facility for the remainder of the week. We do not need to do any special cleaning in these rooms (as long as they will not be used again till the next service). CDC reports that if any facility is quarantined for 7 days, no additional cleaning and disinfection is necessary.
  

Phase 1 - Smaller Community

Starting May 18

​SUMMARY OF PHASE 1

• Worship Services are online only. We encourage families to gather with another family for worship in small groups if able.
  
• The Church Office and the Library are available by appointment only. The remainder of the facility will remain locked and closed.
  

WORSHIP SERVICES

• Services will continue to be provided online only.
  
• If able, we encourage families to gather with another family for worship in small groups. This allows for an opportunity to gather as house churches around the area. When gathering in these settings, please follow recommended size and social distancing guidelines.
  

CHURCH FACILITIES

• The building will remain locked and is accessible by appointment only. 
  
• At this time the only spaces accessible are the Church Office and the Library. If you would like access to either of these locations, please call ahead to confirm someone will be here to let you in. 
  
• Aside from the Office and Library, the rest of the facility is closed and is not available for any private party or organizations outside of FCC to use at this time.