September 25, 2020
Dear St. Alphonsus Liguori Parishioners ,
I pray you and your families are safe and well. As I communicated recently, A parish staff member and myself tested positive for COVID-19, and a letter was sent out with instructions for anyone who has been in close contact with me since Sept. 20 (LESS THAN 6 FEET APART FOR 15 MINUTES OR LONGER) to quarantine for 14 days from the day we had contact.
This letter is to inform you that two more parish staff have tested positive for the virus and we have made the decision to close the church and suspend all services for two weeks until Oct. 11 at the earliest.
We do not believe two parish staff members had close contact with anyone else outside the office. However, as an extra step of precaution, we are closing the school for one week and switching to remote learning, starting on Monday. School families will be notified in a separate letter. We do not believe any students have been in close contact with any of the positive cases, including myself.
In adherence to the local public health department, all cases will be reported, and we will follow their directives, including quarantining.
This is unfortunate news, but the best way to ensure the virus does not spread is to take the preventive measures outlined by the local departments of health. If you are concerned of a possible infection, it’s advised to avoid gatherings, wear face coverings in public, wash your hands frequently and monitor your family members for any signs of infection.
As always, everyone should monitor their health and stay at home if they develop symptoms. Anyone who develops severe symptoms should seek medical care immediately. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever (temperature higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. If you or your child develop symptoms of COVID-19, please contact your medical provider to discuss evaluation and testing.
For severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or difficulty waking, or bluish lips or face please seek the closest emergency department or call 9-1-1 immediately.
You can visit your local department of health website for the most reliable information on COVID-19.
Let me just reaffirm that the health and safety of our parishioners and staff are our priority. We will continue to provide more information regarding future church services as it becomes available. For updates, please check our website at https://saintalphonsusph.org
Please keep our community in your prayers and know that we are praying for you.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
