| Diocese Guidelines Concerning H1N1 Flu |
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Guidance Concerning
Communicable Disease Prevention And Church Practices Episcopal Diocese of
Wyoming Public health officials continue
to strongly encourage everyone to be prepared for pandemic flu. We encourage all parishes to develop a
plan in case there is a major flu outbreak in your community in the coming
months. You may want to bring together a group of people at your parish to
begin discussing what might be best for your parishioners. There may be some
steps you might want to put into place now, additional steps you may want to
implement once flu season starts, and still others you may want to consider should
this become a public health crisis.
The guidance contained in this document is not a directive from the
Diocese but simply a list of suggestions for accommodations you may wish to
consider. Sincerely, The Right Reverend Bruce Caldwell,
Bishop of Wyoming The Rev. Carol E. Peterson, MS, RN, Deacon and Parish Nurse
Concerning Eucharist
Use of the common cup: In no
case can exposure to a single virus or bacterium result in infection. For each
disease there is a minimum number of the agent - generally in the millions -
which must be transmitted from person to person before infection can occur. Our
immunity against a few stray bacteria or viruses is immense! There is a
theoretical risk of transmitting infectious diseases by using a common
communion cup, but the risk is very low.
Experimental
evidence shows that wiping the chalice with a clean linen cloth reduces the
bacterial count by up to 90 per cent. Use of appropriate safeguards can
further diminish the risk. Wiping the interior and exterior rim between
communicants, opening the purificator to its full size, care in rotating the
cloth to a clean area after each person sips, using more than one purificator
as needed, rotating the cup between communicants, use of a clean cloth for each
service, limiting the handling of the chalice during communion to only the
minister – all these things are useful in reducing the transmission of germs.
Clergy and
Eucharistic Ministers (EMs) should also be careful to tip the chalice slowly to
prevent excess backwash. It is
best to use wine that
has at least 12% alcohol content as alcohol is a disinfectant. Chalices
should be washed with hot soapy water and rinsed with scalding hot water following
each Eucharistic service. There have not been
any known requests for public health officials to investigate any outbreaks of
infectious diseases allegedly linked to the use of a common communion cup. However,
communicants
with low resistance to infection (i.e. cancer patients, those on
immunosuppressant therapy, those with certain chronic diseases, etc.) should
probably refrain from use of the common cup for their own protection. Sharing the
communion cup is discouraged if a person has an active respiratory infection,
or moist or open sores on their lips. Intinction: You may wish to have a separate
station for intinction only. It is recommended to use “personal intinction by
the presiding minister” - allowing only the clergy or EM (after they have
adequately cleaned their hands) to dip the wafer into the wine chalice before
handing them out to communicants. The
ministers should either place the wafer that has been dipped in the wine into
the palm of the parishioner’s hand or place it on their tongue – being careful
to not make any physical contact while having additional hand sanitizer
available if needed. There
should be a separate chalice used only for intinction; do not the use the
common cup. Intinction
by parishioners is not recommended as it does not reduce the
introduction of germs into the communion wine since the wafer is handled by the
parishioner prior to intinction. Likewise distributing the bread to
communicants and then the minister taking it from the communicants’ hands and then
dipping it into the wine also defeats the purpose. Cleansing the hands: The clergy, EMs, and anyone else
handling the elements or serving instruments (e.g. Alter Guild, etc.), should
thoroughly wash their hands or clean them with an alcohol based hand sanitizer
in advance. Clergy and EMs should
re-clean their hands just prior to setting the table and distributing communion. Otherwise, the ritual of the washing of
the clergy’s hands at the offertory could be more than symbolic. The lavabo
basin could be large, contain some liquid soap in addition to an adequate
quantity of water, warm water for rinsing, and a proper towel could be provided
so that a thorough hand washing can occur. A through
30-second hand wash will eliminate 95% of all germs (see additional
guidance on hand washing and use of hand sanitizer). Use of wafers rather than a loaf
of bread: It may be best to use individual
wafers that are only handled by people who have just washed their hands / used
hand sanitizer rather than use a loaf of bread where many individuals handle it
/ break of a piece. Or is a loaf of bread is used only the minister should
handle it / break off pieces. Receiving only the bread: It is the position of the Episcopal
Church that God is fully present in both of the communion elements, therefore, it
is acceptable for parishioners to receive only the bread. They should rest
assured they will still receive the full grace of
the Sacrament. Communicants should cross their hands over their chest as
a sign to the chalice bearer to pass them by. Instructions to parishioners: Clergy should periodically instruct the people "If you have the flu, a cold, or a cold sore, please don't drink from the cup or dip the wafer into it." This could be done either through the bulletin or verbally at regular intervals.
Concerning the Passing of the Peace Hands are a notorious source for passing along germs! You may wish to suspend physically exchanging the sign of the peace by shaking hands, hugging, or kissing. Greeting each other with a smile and a nod, a wave or a bow may be more appropriate.
Concerning Consumption of Wine Remaining in the Common Cup It is not
necessary for the priest or deacon to consume any remaining consecrated wine in
the common cup nor is it necessary to rinse the cup with water and consume its
contents as part of the service. A chalice containing remaining consecrated
wine may be covered and immediately removed to the sacristy or carefully set
aside and taken care of after the service by the altar guild.
Other suggestions to consider: You
may also wish to:
Should it become necessary to cancel church services due to a public health crisis, it would be wise to have a phone call list and protocol in place so that any particularly vulnerable parishioners can be checked on as needed.
To learn more check out these web sites: Episcopal
Relief and Development has an excellent section on their web site with
additional information about pandemic flu / disaster preparedness: www.er-d.org National
Episcopal Health Ministries also has resources concerning pandemic flu/
disaster preparedness: www.episcopalhealthministries.org.
Wyoming
Department of Health: http://wdh.state.wy.us Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://cdc.gov
There’s a right way and useless way to wash hands and wash away
micro-organisms. The object is to break down the protective membranes of germs,
dislodge them from your hands and let them go down the drain. Plain soap
accomplishes this: 1. Turn on the water and adjust the temperature. 2. Wet hands and lather well with a bar of soap or squirt a coin size
of liquid soap. 3. Vigorously rub your hands together, soap up between your fingers,
AND your wrists, front and back for 15 seconds. Sing the first chorus of any
song you know and that’ll take you through the 15 seconds. 4. Rinse under warm, RUNNING water. Remember, the object is to dislodge
germs. The force of water is key. Allow the water to run off your fingertips. 5. Use a disposable paper towel to thoroughly dry your hands. 6. Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet. 7. Use the paper towel to turn the door knob – then dispose of the used paper towel. 8. If you must use an air dryer – try to use the edge of you shirt of blouse to handle the door knob. If you’re using alcohol-based gels as hand cleansers: 1. Put a dime-sized amount in one hand. 2. Vigorously rub your hands together over your palms, fingertips and
in between your fingers until the GEL IS DRY. This takes about 30 seconds. 3. Once your hands are clean, do not touch your face, nose, eyes or
lips.
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