How will church protect us from the coronavirus?

People like to say that the church is the center of the black community.

So what are black ministers going to do to protect their congregations from the coronavirus global pandemic?

This fast-spreading outbreak, which is started in China in December, has killed 4,000 and infected at least 113,000. It’s times like these that many people find comfort in religion. But could gathering for church on Sunday amount to a death sentence for some of the faithful?

That’s a question that many pastors need to consider, especially now that the World Health Organization has declared coronavirus a global emergency.

Scientists have determined that:

·        People over 60 are at increased risk of catching the coronavirus

·        People with underlying health issues and compromised immune systems – asthma, cancer, diabetes, COPD and so on face a special risk.

·        There is no vaccine and there probably won’t be one available for at least 1 year

·        The virus is spread by social contact, such as being in the same room with a person already infected.

·        Tiny droplets exhaled by a sick person may linger in the air hours after the infected person has left the room.

·        The sickness can also be spread by touching items that had been handled by an infected person, such as doorknobs or money.

·        The symptoms of coronavirus – fever, cough, shortness of breath – could take 2 to 14 days to show up. You or your friends could be infected and unknowingly spread the sickness to neighbors.

On a Sunday morning where can you find the largest gathering of black folks over the age of 60?

At church.

Do you go to church, or if you’re a pastor, do you conduct services this Sunday? Only you can make that determination.

It’s already been proven that a house of worship is a great place to spread this sickness.

In the New York City suburb of New Rochelle, officials have established a 1-mile containment zone around a Jewish synagogue where a man with coronavirus attended several services.

Now more than 100 people who also attended that synagogue, or live near someone who attended the synagogue, are infected with the coronavirus.

As of this writing on Wednesday morning there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Orange County. However, that doesn’t mean much because you must be tested to determine if you have the sickness.

Considering we live in the vacation capital of the world and so many people work in the hospitality industry it’s only a matter of time before coronavirus arrives in Orange County and in our neighborhoods.

The best defenses are:

·        Stay away from sick people.

·        Wash your hands a lot. (Face masks won’t protect you from catching the sickness. However, the masks should be worn by anyone who is sneezing and coughing.)

What can churches do?

·        Many churches have impressive video operations, so maybe encourage people to attend virtual services on TV or via the computer.

·        Discourage people at service from hugging, kissing, shaking hands or embracing. Just elbow bump or toe tap.

·        Encourage thorough handwashing.

·        Provide lots of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer (more than 60 percent alcohol content)

Federal health officials have also urged people to avoid taking airline flights or going on cruise vacations.

The governor has already declared Florida in a state of emergency.

For the latest local information on the coronavirus, click www.ocfl.net/Coronavirus

For more on this and other critical issues in urban Orlando, listen to the 32805 Spotlight podcast by clicking here.