Coronavirus Preparedness for Oakland Evangelical Free Church # 1

Earlier today we learned that a case of coronavirus was discovered in the Fremont area, and while it is not yet in the Oakland area, it is likely that it will come here in the near future and may have an impact on the area for several weeks if not months.

I am going to use my personal blog to repeat public announcements for the Evangelical Free Church in Oakland regarding this issue.

We will not be canceling church this Sunday, March 8, but we will update you if we need to cancel future events. We will be live streaming on our Facebook page, which you can reach here.


We have already decided that there will be no Super Supper this Wednesday, March 11.
While we cannot control the virus, its spread, or the impact it has on our church, we are listening to proper authorities and suggesting the best practices to mitigate the risk and make our church gatherings as safe and clean as possible. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to help us do just that.
Most people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others. Therefore, let's remember that using caution and praying for one another is the way to love one another and be good neighbors in the areas.
We don't want to over-hype the coronavirus. At the same time, we recognize the fact that the mortality rate is higher than the flu and symptoms might not show up for 10 days.

Here is a link to a document for some general preparedness for your family in a situation like this:


Starting this Sunday here are a few precautionary measures we are putting in place:

  • We will have hand sanitizer throughout the building.
  • We ask you to wash your hands with soap thoroughly after using the restroom, which is a good practice anyway.
  • If a children's volunteer sees that a child has any cold/flu symptoms we will notify the parent right away and ask for the child to be removed.
  • We will not use coffee mugs but disposable cups for the foreseeable future.
  • For our greeting time and socializing before/after the worship gathering, we recommend that you do not shake hands or hug. (This is going to be hardest on me!!)

Please stay at home if . . .
  • . . . your immune system is compromised already and you are more susceptible to the flu or other viruses. Up to this point, the most serious cases seem to be with older people and those with other health complications.
  • . . . you have a fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, or runny nose. Even if you have mild symptoms it's better to be safe than sorry. Once again, the virus begins with mild symptoms for 2-10 days before you realize you have it.

If you or a family member contracts the Coronavirus please let one of our staff members or elders know immediately so that we can protect the rest of the church and begin praying for you. Also, if you do get sick and do not want to or cannot get out of the house for an extended period of time, please contact us if you need anything. We will try to get you supplies in a way that does not risk spreading the illness.

Here's the good news. God is a good Father and we can come to him to pray for protection against the spread of this virus. We don't have to have a "spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7).

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