Here is a recap of the call with the governor’s office.

The current Shelter-in-Place order goes through April 30. New guidelines will be issued between now and then.

The governor’s office is still stating that online services (livestream) are best.

The governor has never told churches they cannot have services, but is still discouraging meeting in-person for services.

It is very unwise to hold services together in Southwest Georgia or Atlanta, where the virus is unbelievably bad.

Although not recommended, you may hold in-person services, even with more than 10 people, but the following guidelines must be followed:

• Please urge anyone who feels sick, or had contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19, to stay home.
• The elderly and those who are medically fragile should stay home.
• Only people living in the same household should sit together. Everyone else should maintain a distance of 6 feet. How? You determine based on your situation. (You may need to hold several services.)
• Nursery – you must do what is best for your situation, but as a rule-of-thumb, children should probably stay with the members of their household.
• Avoid using restrooms, passing offering plates, serving coffee, handing out bulletins, etc.
• When people arrive, they should still down immediately.
• At the end of the service, each row should be dismissed orderly.
• Wearing masks is advised.
• The church should be cleaned thoroughly before and after each service to minimize the spread of the virus.
• Have plenty of hand sanitizer on hand.
• Consider doing a temperature check on all staff and volunteer workers.

These suggested guidelines are the bare minimum, but each church needs to decide what is best for their congregation.