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Wearing masks and social distancing as mandated by the CDC and the State of New Jersey are by far the two behaviors which keep us all safe from SARS-CoV-2. These behaviors will continue to be fully maintained here at Corpus Christi.
Much research published in recent months has shown the risk of catching the SARS-CoV-2 virus from inanimate objects and surfaces as very minor, on the order of 5 in 10,000. And even this is seen by some as an overestimate since this statistic was derived from detection of RNA and not from detection of infectious virus.
This low infection risk rate from inanimate objects and surfaces supports prioritizing our Covid-19 pandemic response resources to focus on reducing the spread via aerosols and droplets (e.g., wearing masks) and by close contacts (e.g., social distancing).
It is with this understanding that Corpus Christi will alter its Health and Safety procedures. While the church and facilities will continue to be cleaned multiple time per week, we will now only disinfect the church once per week on Thursdays.
Corpus Christi will stop its policy of taking names and numbers for Contact Tracing purposes. If you attended Mass with us and later test positive for Covid-19, please fill out, or have someone fill out the notification form on our website under the Covid-19 heading.
Lastly, Corpus Christi will stop taking the temperature of all parishioners as they enter the Atrium for Mass.
An example of one of many informative studies regarding the minor risk from fomites on surfaces is Longitudinal Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on High-Touch Surfaces in a Community Setting https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00875
Here are two reviews of that specific study:
https://rapidreviewscovid19.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/hvcnl3cc/release/1
https://rapidreviewscovid19.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/g4qpkcr0/release/1
Diocese of Paterson Protocols for Liturgical Celebration in Time of Pandemic
Preface (excerpt)
These diocesan mandated guidelines are a means for pastors and other pastoral ministers and lay staff members to provide a more healthy space for worship. As a general norm, the pastor may use his prudent discretion to adapt these guidelines to the pastoral setting of the local community.
Occupancy of Churches and Access to Churches (excerpt)
7. A reasonable period should be scheduled between the times when people leave for all churches and public parish buildings. Only then can people be admitted into the next Mass.