Notices

Covid-19 Update

You will all be aware that the First Minister announced to Parliament this week that Scotland will move beyond Level 0 from tomorrow 9^th of August. She also emphasised that the virus continues to be a threat and that care still needs to be taken.

In light of her statement, the Covid-19 Group also met this week and offered some thoughts following her statement.

The First Minister said that they will continue to advise the public "especially indoors - that keeping a safe distance from people in other households and avoiding crowded places will minimise risk.”

Although it is possible to offer a range of seating options, the Covid-19 Group suggestion is that for the next few weeks congregations may wish to stick with the 1-metre physical distancing regime which was so recently put in place. They are not enforcing that of course but we thought certainly for the next couple of Sundays we would continue with that until we meet as a board later this month and discuss this and determine whether the Trustees are happy to completely remove the physical distancing altogether. We know that for many it may be more reassuring for those attending in person to be slightly further apart but that may change once we’ve had a chance to discuss it.

“It will also continue to be the law, subject to existing exemptions, that face coverings must be worn in all the same indoor settings as is the case already” So there is little change from what we have been doing when we come into the church building.

The Covid-19 group are aware that there are some glaring anomalies in what the Government says about face coverings – when sitting in the pew on a Sunday we need to wear our mask all the time but in the café across the street you can remove it when you are seated; when we stand to sing in church we need to wear a mask but if we came back later as a member of a choir then we can sing without the covering so they are continuing to lobby the civil servants and stating the case that these inconsistencies bring the system into disrepute but for now these are the rules.

We will continue to follow good practice and recommendations on cleaning and disinfecting regimes, hand hygiene, good ventilation and complying with Test & Protect. We have not yet beaten this virus and so the group advise that some of these measures may be in place for some time to come.

Reporting of cases

If you are experiencing any COVID-related symptoms, are feeling unwell or you, or a member of your household have received a positive COVID test please do not attend Church for any reason until you have completed a 10-day self-isolation period.