In 2022, Friends General Conference created a Pandemic Health & Safety Policy. The edition embedded below is the most up-to-date version of the policy.
Why was this policy created?
- We believe that FGC is a religious community with a responsibility to all who attend FGC events
- This responsibility includes maintaining event safety to the degree possible
- Individual choices affect others in the community
- Marginalized community members have been found to be at greater risk of serious illness & death from COVID-19. These infections have a disproportionate impact on poor people, disabled people, immuno-compromised people, un- and under-insured people, as well as Black and Brown people.
- This responsibility includes maintaining event safety to the degree possible
Government bodies and other organizations have lifted restrictions, why not FGC?
- Many health authorities disagree with these decisions
- Political and business concerns can influence public policy to depart from optimal safety policies
- FGC is committed to making events as safe as possible, not just reasonably safe for most
What are current concerns about the virus?
- We continue to suffer from a global pandemic with recurrent waves of infection.
- Viral evolution continuesMultiple recent variants show resistance to immunity from prior infections and vaccines as well as medications
- Viral evolution can produce variants carrying greater risk of severe disease & death
- Understanding of the risks of evolving variants lags weeks behind infections
- Even mild or asymptomatic infections in vaccinated people can produce “Long Covid”Between 1 in 3 and 1 in 5 people have symptoms of “Long Covid” after an infection, even if it is asymptomatic and they are fully vaccinated
- Children under 5 years old are not eligible for vaccination
- Unvaccinated children under 5, the immune compromised, those with certain (common) conditions and the elderly are at greater risk of severe disease & death
- Serious illness and death occur even in healthy teens and young adults, though their relative risk is lower than in those who are older
Why are face masks required?
- Not all attenders (such as children under 5) can receive the relative protection of vaccination
- Vaccinated & boosted people can still become infected
- Face masks protect the wearer
- Face masks protect those around them
What kind of mask is best?
- N95 masks with straps around the head provide the best protection
- N95 & KN95 with ear loops are next best, as they tend to leak more
- “Surgical masks” offer some protection, but leaks are a weakness
- Cloth masks and “gaiters” are ineffective and unsatisfactory
- Double masking improves surgical and cloth masks somewhat
- Face shields offer slight additional protection if used with a good mask and no protection if not combined with a mask
Why so many tests?
- PCR tests can detect infection 1-2 days before an at-home test
- PCR tests can remain positive after illness has resolved and the person is no longer infectious. PCR testing two weeks before an event can show a person was ill, but they are no longer infectious at the time of the event, so attendance at an event would be safe
- PCR tests and results may be difficult to obtain immediately prior to attendance, so rapid at-home tests about 72 hours before arrival offer a reasonable alternative
- Rapid at-home tests can miss an infection
- It may report a “false negative” result, a greater problem with Omicron & variants
- It may miss an early infection
- Rapid at-home testing about 72 hours before arrival, coupled with a repeat rapid test on arrival mitigates these risks
How can meals be safer?
- Wear a mask while obtaining food, then take the food outside to eat
- Wear a mask while obtaining food, take it off to eat but eat promptly, and either resume a mask to socialize or leave the dining area for the outside in order to socialize
Will FGC provide tests and masks?
- Rapid tests upon arrival will be provided
- (Mid-week rapid tests will be provided)?
- (Some masks will be available, but plan to bring your own)?