We want to take a few minutes to help our family with a few practical thoughts on how to reach out to folks who are vulnerable, or who have become sick.
Let’s define a few terms, first.
Social Distancing - Staying ~6ft from others and avoiding unnecessary shopping trips & social gatherings. This is something that the CDC has recommended all Americans practice.
Self-Quarantine - Staying away from others and only going out when absolutely necessary (e.g. for groceries or medicine). Currently, the CDC recommends this for people who are higher-risk, or have had direct contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus disease.
When someone in your LifeGroup tests positive for the coronavirus disease, you have a wonderful opportunity to serve them by buying groceries & delivering them to their doorstep, cooking meals for them, and helping them to recover quickly. Continue reaching out to them as they are able, and have someone from your group check in on them daily, if not more often.
Someone who tests positive should be kept in a room to themselves, and meals should be delivered to their door, but not with direct contact. When someone is ready to eat, make a plate for them and set it outside their door - don’t bring it into them. Make sure to wash your hands after doing any laundry or dishes that the person who has been infected has touched. Also, it’s a good practice to disinfect any surfaces that the sick person has touched, including doorknobs, sinks, and toilets.
Work with your LifeGroup leader to make sure that needs are being met, and remind your LifeGroup leader to let their coach know when someone in their group contracts the virus.
Finally, during this time of quarantine, phone calls/Google hangouts can be a way to stay connected without risking infection. It’s easy to stigmatize those who are sick, but it’s important to remember that the virus doesn’t target specific people, and all of us are at risk.
For more practical tips, check out our resource “Socially Distancing without Socially Isolating.”