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Current COVID Policies

Note: Please do not attend any TBS events if you have COVID, have COVID symptoms, or are in quarantine from a close contact with a COVID-positive individual.

Note: “Fully vaccinated” means having received as many doses as one is eligible for. Starting on January 1, 2022, this includes having a booster for those who are eligible.  

 

Outdoor services (when weather is nice)

·      Masks and distancing are not required outdoors for fully vaccinated people.

·      Unvaccinated people age 5 or older should wear masks outdoors.  

·      Space will be set aside for those who wish to mask and socially distance.  

 

Indoor services (poor weather, wintertime, or if there is not enough room outside)

·      All attendees who are eligible for vaccination must be fully vaccinated.  

·      Masks are optional for individuals who are fully vaccinated.  Individual minyanim and group activities may require masks.  

·      Space will be set aside for those who wish to socially distance.

Indoor Food Events in Well-Ventilated Spaces at TBS (poor weather, wintertime, or if there is not enough room outside)

·      Anyone eligible for vaccination must be fully vaccinated to attend indoor food events.  This will be assessed by attestation on sign up or at the door.  

·      Anyone who attends indoor activities at which food is served must sign up in advance. 

··      Seats will be set up to facilitate distancing (max 6 chairs per table) but distancing will not be required.

·      The capacity of the TBS downstairs vestry for events at which food is served is 60 persons if windows are open a few inches.

·      Events may be canceled if levels of community spread in Cambridge and Somerville are excessive.

·      Event organizers should appoint a safety monitor to enforce compliance.


Indoor Food Events at Members’ Homes:
·      Anyone eligible for vaccination must be fully vaccinated to attend any indoor food event.  This will be assessed by attestation on sign up or at the door.  

·      No more than 8 people.

·      Hosts are encouraged to leave windows open while masks are off.  


Reasoning behind this policy:


Covid-19 is a disease that can cause serious illness and death.   We follow the recommendations of public health officials including CDC and Cambridge DPH. 

·      Vaccination is an extremely effective protection against severe disease, which we highly encourage for all who are eligible.  Therefore, we require participants who are eligible for vaccination to be vaccinated in order to attend indoor events and in order to be unmasked outdoors. 

·      Booster vaccinations 6 months after initial vaccination can greatly decrease risk of infection.  Therefore, we require participants who are eligible for boosters to have a booster by the end of 2021 in order to remove masks indoors or outdoors.  

·      Risk of spread outdoors is very low.  Public health officials generally do not recommend masks outdoors for vaccinated people, although messaging is mixed. 

·      Covid-19 is primarily spread through the air.  Masks can reduce spread.  In particular, high filtration masks are very effective.  As long as CDC risk levels are moderate, we do not require masks indoors.  Those who are at high risk are encouraged to wear masks as necessary.  

·      In order to eat, masks must be removed.  Risk of spread can be mitigated by requiring vaccination, limiting the number of attendees, and increasing ventilation.  Davening and eating spaces indoors are outfitted with ventilation that provides a minimum of 6 ACH and capacity for eating is limited to ensure 10 CFM/person at maximum capacity.


Additional detail available upon request.  Policies may change depending on risk levels.

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784