COVID-19 Policy

Congregation Beth El is currently holding hybrid
(in-person and virtual) services and events

  • In accordance with the recommendations of our COVID-19 Working Group, Congregation Beth El has adopted the following policy: 

  1. When the community level of disease activity in Penobscot County[1] is LOW or MEDIUM, people who are fully vaccinated and boosted for their age and risk group have the option of not wearing a mask in the building.
  2. When disease activity is HIGH, masking is required in the building for all people except for service leaders.
  3. When people choose to mask, and/or when masking is required, we strongly encourage the use of N95 or KN95 masks that are properly fitted to cover the nose and mouth and wrap under the chin.
  4. Although we have no specific requirements, we encourage people who wish to practice social distancing to do so as the physical space allows.
  5. People in the following categories should not enter the building for any reason:
  • Those who have had tested positive for COVID-19 and have not met CDC requirements for ending isolation and masking. Additionally, we ask that those who test positive for COVID wait 10 days before attending in-person services.
  • Those who have had exposure to a person with known COVID-19 in the past 5 days.
  • Those who currently have symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever, nausea, diarrhea, loss of taste and/or smell, muscle aches, fatigue, and headache, regardless of whether they have tested positive for COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Working Group comprises medical experts from our community. They have considered a variety of factors, including the wide availability of vaccines, testing, and treatment for COVID-19.

We are grateful to Ron Blum, MD, Eddie Harrow, MD, Jesse Higgins, PMHNP, Michael Ross, MD, and Noah Nesin, MD, for their leadership as we navigate this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[1] To determine the level of disease activity in Penobscot County, we rely on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Covid-19 Community Level calculator (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html).