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For the latest information from the state of Massachusetts regarding vaccination, please click HERE.
What does it mean to say that a vaccine is n% effective? NYTimes explainer. NPR explainer.
You can now sign up for the newest COVID-19 booster at CVS. Even if you think you do not "qualify," (i.e. < 65 and generally healthy) please check the list, which is detailed and inclusive. People with Certain Medical Conditions and COVID-19 Risk Factors | COVID-19 | CDC
CDT's Covid Guidelines
Last updated May 24, 2023
CDT convened a Covid-19 Protocol Committee in 2020, and has continued to convene this committee as changes are made to CDC Guidelines. The committee was tasked with following ongoing research as well as federal, state, and municipal policy response and guidelines, in order to provide time-sensitive recommendations to the CDT executive committee and board on CDT policy for in-person gatherings.
In December 2021, a Religious School Advisory Group was formed and tasked with providing consultation to our religious school about specific cases, potential closures, and to report on Covid research pertaining to the heath and safety of our religious school students and families. The Religious School guidelines can be found HERE.
Guidelines for in-person services and other indoor gatherings :
Please note that all Shabbat morning services will continue to be livestreamed via Zoom for guests and congregants who prefer to participate from home.
In the CDT Sanctuary and for other indoor events:
In response to the decline in prevalence and intensity of the Covid-19 virus, and the ending of the national public health emergency, CDT adopted the following protocols in May of 2023. In so doing, we continue to balance our commitment to caring for one another and making as many of our programs accessible to as many of our members as possible with our adaptation to changing circumstances, with guidance from the CDC and other public health authorities.
We continue to require that our staff be fully vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus, and very strongly encourage all of our members who are eligible be fully vaccinated and up to date on vaccinations.
In our sanctuary and at other indoor events, we have a mask optional policy. We do not require the wearing of masks, but want anyone to feel comfortable wearing a mask at our events. We will continue to have masks available at our programs. We will maintain a “mask required” section of our sanctuary, and at Gann Academy for all those who would prefer this option. Zooming (or livestreaming) of Shabbat morning services and many other programs will continue.
If CDT members or guests have respiratory symptoms and/or known COVID-19 exposure, for the safety of others, we encourage you to do a home test for COVID prior to attending a CDT event. Even if you are negative, we ask you to stay home when testing positive, or feeling sick in order to protect others from respiratory illnesses. If you do choose to enter the community when you have respiratory symptoms (but have tested negative for COVID), we ask that you wear a mask.
For those testing positive for COVID, we encourage people to isolate for 5 days after a positive test (Day 0 is the day of a positive test), and wear a mask from days 6-10 if they choose to re-enter the community on these days. The CDC also encourages continuing isolation after day 5 if you have a fever, or if symptoms have not improved, or if you experience shortness of breath.
All of the above applies if conditions continue as they are now. If the CDC designation of Covid risk recommendations change in either direction, we will revisit these guidelines.