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DUE TO THE GOVENOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER OF LIMITING ALL PUBLIC GATHERINGS TO 10 PEOPLE OR LESS BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THERE WILL BE NO ON-SITE SERVICES IN MARCH. JOIN US ONLINE THIS SUNDAY AT 11:00AM.

 

MARCH 23, 2020

COVID-19: Recommended Preventative Practices and FAQs for Faith-based and Community Leaders

Recommended Preventative Actions

  1. Follow CDC Recommendations

    The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Currently, no vaccine exists to prevent COVID-19. Communities are encouraged to follow CDC recommendations to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases ― including the flu:

    •   Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.

    •   Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.

    •   Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds ― especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap

      and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

    •   Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, especially your eyes, nose, or mouth.

    •   Thoroughly and repeatedly clean high-contact surfaces and objects.

    •   Stop any stigma related to COVID-19 by knowing the facts and by sharing them with others in your community.

  1. Frequently Asked Questions:

  •  What Are the Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19?
  • Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases. The following symptoms may appear 2–14 days after exposure:
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath

 Should We Greet One Another as Usual? Shaking Hands, Kissing Cheeks, etc.?
Identify how your community may greet one another in ways that reduce any potential spread of viruses, including COVID-19. For example, provide direction to those gathered to replace hugs with elbow touches. Consider recommending that members not hug or touch one another, but offer hand signals like a peace sign or the American Sign Language sign for “I Love You."

  •  What Should I Tell People Who Are Concerned?

Reassure them that your church or community-based organization, as well as local, state, and national authorities, is taking all necessary precautions to ensure their health and safety. Your response can soothe concerns and create an atmosphere of calm. The best way to prevent illness is to practice routine and common sense hygiene practices. These everyday practices also help to prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including the flu:

  •   Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.

  •   Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the used tissue in the trash.

  •   Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially

    after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

  •   Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, especially your eyes, nose, or mouth.

  •   Clean high-contact surfaces and objects thoroughly and repeatedly.

  •  How Can We Advise the Elderly, Those with Special Health Considerations, their Caregivers, and Other High-Risk Populations?

Provide special consideration in communicating risk to vulnerable populations in your community, including older adults and others with access and/or functional needs. Assign, or encourage those whom you serve to seek out, a “buddy” who will check in on and help care for them, should they get sick.

o Make plans to stay connected.

 

MARCH 20, 2020

International Religious Freedom Roundtable - 21Wilberforce and Coptic Solidarity are launching a multi-faith action letter to urge the House Committee on Foreign Relations and the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee to speak out for Mr. Ramy Kamel, a prominent Coptic Christian activist. Kamel has been the primary source of information for NGOs and individuals around the world working to improve religious freedom in Egypt. On November 23rd, Mr. Kamel was arrested under the cover of dark, around 1:30 AM. He was beaten and interrogated without legal representation at the Supreme State Security Prosecution in Cairo’s Fifth Settlement neighborhood.

Rights groups almost universally agree that Kamel’s arrest is a direct effort by the Egyptian government to punish and silence him for documenting and publicizing human rights abuses against Coptic Christians. In 2011, Kamel founded the Maspero Youth Union after the infamous Maspero Massacre in which 27 Copts were killed by the Egyptian military while peacefully protesting a church closure.

 Call for Signatures

  • View, read and sign the updated multi-faith letter.
  • Please let us know if your organization would like to sign on or if you will sign as an individual (with title and organization for identification purposes only), or both.
  • The deadline for signatures is the close of business on Friday, April 3, 2020.

To Inform Your Decision

  • The Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups, which compose the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, issued a statement urging Kamel’s release stating:
    • “We urge the authorities to comply with their obligations under international law to provide effective remedies to victims. Egypt must immediately free Mr. Kamel, lift all charges against him, and conduct effective investigations to ensure that those responsible for the violations, including any act of torture, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, are prosecuted and punished.”
  • UN experts issued a statement calling for his release.
  • Read USCIRF's call for Ramy's release.
  • Learn more about Ramy's case, and how he has supported important access to information Egyptian authorities are trying to ignore and hide