Though we wish it were not necessary, the Synod has issued a revised policy for in-person Synod sponsored events. The following chart summarizes the policy:

Given the current trends of infections, disease, and hospitalization, the Synod has postponed the January Generosity Extravaganza to June 18, 2022. Next year's worship service honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Synod Assembly business meeting will be conducted online only.

Church leaders who are planning services, which are likely to be highly attended, are encouraged to maintain or strengthen COVID mitigation efforts and pay attention to the latest data trends. (See below for information on layered mitigation strategies.)

The majority of cases in our area right now are caused by the delta variant. PA and NJ Hospitals are filling up (Inquirer)

New cases are rising sharply in the five-county area, and infection rates are significantly higher than 1.0 in the area. Test positivity rates are nearing 10% in most of the area. Between 57 and 63% of the population are fully vaccinated in our counties (covidactnow.org)

Church leaders who are planning services, which are likely to be highly attended, are encouraged to maintain or strengthen COVID mitigation efforts and pay attention to the latest data trends.

Mitigation measures include vaccines, non-medical interventions such as masking and physical distancing, handwashing, facilities cleaning and ventilation, and more. Mitigation measures require a layered approach. None are effective by themselves but provide more protection when applied together. (See diagram)

The latest guidance from the Ecumenical Consultation encourages alternatives to indoor gatherings when positivity rates are greater than 10% or ICU utilization exceeds 85%. Masks should always be worn indoors, by everyone. Masks should be worn while singing outdoors. Masks are also needed outdoors if households cannot be physically distanced.

In his Dec.9 podcast, Dr. Michael Osterholm notes that delta cases and hospitalizations are surging in the Northeast, including Pennsylvania. Deaths are ticking up as well. At the current rate, 38,000 individuals would die in the course of a month. Initial and tentative information about the omicron variant: Omicron is approximately four times as transmissible as delta. Omicron may be the dominant variant in the US by Christmas. Early indications are that disease may be less severe than delta; it will take 1-2 more weeks for better data. The third dose of the mRNA vaccines and second doses of J&J are critical, Osterholm says. Individuals with one or two doses are more vulnerable to breakthrough infections.