Posted Jul. 15, 2021; links updated Nov. 9, 2021
Dear UUCF Congregants,
The UUCF Re-Opening Task Force is happy to announce that the Coordinating Team has approved our recommendation to enter Phase 2 of our re-opening plan. In this phase, starting Jul. 19, the UUCF campus will be available for outdoor gatherings of any size, and UUCF buildings will be available for small group gatherings. The task force recommends this step because 55.6% of Fairfax County residents have been fully vaccinated, 63.8% have been partially vaccinated, and these numbers continue to increase. Fairfax County is also continuing to show low levels of community spread at this time.
Indoor and outdoor activities must follow the UUCF COVID-19 Guidelines for UUCF-Sponsored Indoor and Outdoor Activities.
Masks
When gathering outside, partially or unvaccinated folks should wear masks and maintain appropriate social distance. Everyone over the age of 2 must wear a mask inside UUCF buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
This new mask policy reflects an abundance of caution as breakthrough infections of the Delta variant continue to affect vaccinated individuals. UUCF also has a large number of unvaccinated children who will be returning to Religious Exploration classes in the Program Building and the unvaccinated Siena School (a new UUCF renter) children will be present daily on the campus. Protecting all those most vulnerable in our community is a guiding principle; masks for all indoor meetings is an important means to this end. Groups that have members who are uncomfortable or unwilling to follow the indoor mask policy may continue to utilize outdoor space, but may not have access to indoor meeting space at this time. Failure to comply with this policy will lead to the group losing access to indoor space.
Restroom Access
For security purposes, the doors of UUCF buildings are locked at all times. Individuals and groups with reservations for outdoor or indoor spaces will receive a code to unlock the doors and will have restroom access in the Program Building. Masks must be worn indoors at all times.
A full list of UUCF COVID-19 Guidelines for UUCF-Sponsored Indoor and Outdoor Activities is posted online. Please review this document closely before hosting or attending a UUCF outdoor gathering.
In keeping with UUCF’s covenant with each other, the UUCF Coordinating Team, Board of Directors and the COVID-19 Task Force ask members and friends to comply with both the requirements and the non-mandatory recommendations in these guidelines to protect everyone’s health. All participants in in-person gatherings should be sensitive to the comfort of others with respect to hugging, touching and physical proximity. Groups are encouraged to consider other summer health risks in planning their meetings (e.g., heat, bugs, poison ivy, thunderstorms, etc.).
The UUCF Re-Opening Task Force
Bill Braband, Meredith Carr, Rev. Christin C. Green, Diana Tycer & Gina Wells