Author: admin

Categories
Singing Social Distancing

Messiah Concert Socially Distanced

Every December for over a century, there has been a performance of The Messiah at First Mennonite Church in Berne, Indiana.  The 2020 performance was significantly different than prior years.

First, the concert was given online only, with no audience present.
Second, the choir was limited in size and spread around where the audience would have been.
Third, the performance was shortened, curtailing most of the second half of The Messiah, but of course The Hallelujah Chorus was included.

Watch it by clicking below.
The Messiah – Berne, Indiana 2020

Categories
Church Covid Spread

COVID Outbreak at North Carolina Church Linked to 12 Deaths and More Than 200 Cases

United House of Prayer for All People, in Charlotte, held large gatherings over a week in early October without enforcing proper coronavirus safety precautions, like mask wearing and social distancing. In the month and a half since, cases linked back to the church have steadily increased, hitting 213 as of Nov. 19, and deaths are now up to 12.

Source: COVID Outbreak at North Carolina Church Linked to 12 Deaths and More Than 200 Cases

Categories
Precautions Against Covid Singing

COVID-free for days, Australian state resumes singing, dancing, religious services

While Australia is an island (a very large continent-island) they have demonstrated that it is possible to contain covid.  They are using measures that are very familiar to all of us: wearing masks, social distancing, contact tracing.

Australia’s most populous state said that from Monday it would remove limits on the number of people at weddings, bars and religious services and end a ban on public venue dancing as a run of coronavirus-free days prompted a broad downgrade of social distancing rules.

Though Australia has reported some new coronavirus cases in returned travellers in quarantine, the country has largely stopped community transmission of the virus with contact tracing, distancing measures and mandatory mask-wearing.

Source: COVID-free for days, Australian state resumes singing, dancing, religious services

Categories
Church Spread

Health Unit illustrates COVID-19 spread from church outbreak

The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit is providing a detailed look at how easily COVID-19 cases in a local church spread across the municipality.

Source: CK health unit illustrates COVID-19 spread from church outbreak

Categories
Filters Precautions Against Covid Ultraviolet Lighting

Science for the Road Ahead: Air Conditioning, Fans and Ventilation

This YouTube video is an interview with an engineer, William P. Bahnfleth, by some leaders in the United Church of Christ. The subject of this session is ventilation, specifically as it relates to church buildings. He also covers filters and how ultraviolet lighting can be used to counter virus particles.

The video is about one hour long, but very worthwhile as his expertise adds much useful information to help church leaders.

Categories
Eye Protection Precautions Against Covid

Association of Daily Wear of Eyeglasses With Susceptibility to COVID-19 Infection

A study with less than 300 subjects in China surveys the numbers of patients hospitalized with Covid who wear eyeglasses, compared to the numbers of people in that region who wear eyeglasses.  While this is a small study, larger and more comprehensive studies could demonstrate whether or not wearing eyeglasses has an effect on the prevelance or severity of Covid.  The construction industry in the US adopted widespread use of safety glasses for all personnel about 30 years ago.  So people with 20/20 vision would typically wear safety glasses all day while on the jobsite.

If you know of any other studies that relate glasses or eye protection to Covid, please link to them in the comments.

This cohort study assesses the association between daily wear of eyeglasses and susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 among patients admitted to a single hospital with infection.

Our study found that the proportion of inpatients with COVID-19 who wear eyeglasses for extended daily periods was lower than that of the general population, suggesting that daily wear of eyeglasses is associated with less susceptibility to COVID-19 infection.

Source: Association of Daily Wear of Eyeglasses With Susceptibility to COVID-19 Infection

Categories
Health Care

Hospitals Know What’s Coming

“We are on an absolutely catastrophic path,” said a COVID-19 doctor at University of Nebraska Medical Center, one of America’s best-equipped hospitals.

“It’s very difficult to do this work when we know so many people are not doing their part.” The drive home from the packed hospital takes him past rows of packed restaurants, sporting venues, and parking lots.

Source: Hospitals Know What’s Coming

Categories
Aerosols Covid Spread Droplets Singing

COVID Research Links | drheathernelson

We have all heard about the role of surfaces, aerosols and droplets in the spread of COVID.  Singing is believed to propel droplets beyond the typical 6 ft. social distancing standard.  Dr. Heather Nelson is a vocologist (with a PhD in that field.)  Her blog reviews research and adds her explanations and commentary.

Source: COVID Research Links | drheathernelson

Categories
Precautions Against Covid Social Distancing

Social distancing and gatherings: Advice and tips

Large gatherings remain one of the highest risk activities in which a person can participate. Learn about how to practice physical distancing at these events.

Source: Social distancing and gatherings: Advice and tips

Categories
Church Covid Spread

Maine church has Covid outbreak that spreads in their county

At least 62 cases of COVID-19 were linked to the church outbreak during the course of the investigation, according to Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah. The outbreak originated at the Brooks church, but quickly spread throughout Waldo County.

SOURCE:

https://bangordailynews.com/2020/11/20/news/midcoast/maine-cdc-closes-covid-19-outbreak-investigation-into-brooks-church/