Thank you for sharing in this important work, loving our neighbours and keeping us all safe!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Archival Updates~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 19th, 2022
Update from Bishop Sandra Fyfe
Navigating the New Normal — The Lifting of Public Health Protocols
Best Practices for Parishes and Clergy in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
At the end of this document you will find questions and conversation to assist your parish in establishing their own risk tolerance and guidelines.
If you have any questions or concerns about these Best Practices, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Diocesan Executive Director, the Reverend Ann Turner, at executivedirector@nspeidiocese.ca or 902-420-0717, ext. 1167.
Thank you for all your hard work.
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February 15th, 2022
Nova Scotia Highlights:
Regular Faith Services — 50% of the venue’s capacity (indoor and outdoor) with social distancing and masks. Proof of vaccination is not required. It is permissible to remove masks while leading worship (as a presider, reader or intercessor) as long as physical distancing of 6’ from the congregation or other worship leaders can be maintained. Please note that masks must be worn at all times for others attending faith gatherings (other than at the receiving of holy communion). Congregational singing is permitted with masks. Live music is permitted with musicians following the performing arts gathering limit. Wearing a mask is required when performing (except when a soloist is singing or playing a wind instrument). This includes choirs. Musicians need to maintain a minimum physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet) from others when they’re singing or playing a wind instrument.
Informal Faith Gatherings can have up to 25 people (household members and consistent social group) plus 1 person conducting the service (indoor and outdoor) without proof of full vaccination and social distancing. Masks may be required if you’re in a public place with mask requirements.
Weddings and Funerals (including visitation and receptions) hosted by a business or organization – 50% of the venue’s capacity (indoor and outdoor) with social distancing, masks, and with proof of vaccination. Congregational singing is permitted with masks. Live music is permitted with musicians following the performing arts gathering limit. Wearing a mask is required when performing (except when a soloist is singing or playing a wind instrument). Musicians need to maintain a minimum physical distance of 2 metres (6 feet) from others when they are singing or playing a wind instrument.
Informal Wedding Ceremonies can have up to 25 people (household members and consistent social group) plus 1 person conducting the ceremony (indoor and outdoor) without proof of full vaccination and social distancing. Masks may be required if you’re in a public place with mask requirements.
Funeral Services hosted by a business or organization (indoor and outdoor) can have up to 25 people plus the person conducting the ceremony and funeral home staff without proof of full vaccination. Masks are required (indoor and outdoor). Receptions and visitation are only permitted with proof of vaccination.
Prince Edward Island Highlights:
The Public Health Office of PEI is now allowing congregational singing (while wearing masks) during faith gatherings. It is permissible on Prince Edward Island to remove masks while leading worship (as a presider, reader, intercessor or soloist) as long as physical distancing of 6’ from the congregation or other worship leaders can be maintained. Please note that masks must be worn at all times for others attending faith gatherings (other than at the receiving of holy communion).
The Public Health Office of PEI is introducing graduated changes to the present policies for Organized Gatherings. They may be found here. This information applies worship services, concerts, and spectators at sport events.
Current
Up to 50 people, plus staff/officiants, with physical distancing between households/steady 10
Multiple cohorts not permitted
Multi-use facilities can continue with groups of 50 per separate space
PEI Vax Pass in effect for applicable activities and venues
Congregational singing with masks permitted
Step 1 – 17 February
Up to 50% capacity; organizers required to maximize use of space to allow for as much physical distancing as possible
PEI Vax Pass in effect for applicable activities and organizations
Step 2 – est. 17 March
Up to 75% capacity; organizers required to maximize use of space to allow for as much physical distancing as possible
PEI Vax Pass in effect for applicable activities and gatherings over 200 people
Step 3 – est. 7 April
No anticipated gathering limits
No Vax Pass program anticipated
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February 9th, 2022
Nova Scotia - No changes have been made to diocesan protocols for parishes in Nova Scotia since the last update on January 27th, 2022 which can be found here.
Beginning Monday, February 7, restrictions were eased for sports practices and arts and culture rehearsals. This may affect outside groups meeting on church properties. All other restrictions will remain in place until February 14. Sports practices and rehearsals for arts and culture performances can have up to 25 people indoors and 50 outdoors. They cannot have multiple groups, games or performances. Spectators/audiences are still not permitted.
Decisions about gradually easing other restrictions will be announced soon. Current provincial restrictions may be found here.
Prince Edward Island
The Public Health Office of PEI is now allowing congregational singing (while wearing masks) during faith gatherings. While it is permissible on Prince Edward Island to remove masks while leading worship (as a presider, reader, intercessor or soloist) as long as physical distancing of 6’ from the congregation or other worship leaders can be maintained, we strongly recommend that masks continue to be worn at all times. Please note that masks must be worn at all times for others attending faith gatherings (other than at the receiving of holy communion).
The Public Health Office of PEI is introducing graduated changes to the present policies for Organized Gatherings. They may be found here. This information applies worship services, concerts, and spectators at sport events.
Current
Up to 50 people, plus staff/officiants, with physical distancing between households/steady 10
Multiple cohorts not permitted
Multi-use facilities can continue with groups of 50 per separate space
PEI Vax Pass in effect for applicable activities and venues
Congregational singing with masks permitted
Step 1 – 17 February
Up to 50% capacity; organizers required to maximize use of space to allow for as much physical distancing as possible
PEI Vax Pass in effect for applicable activities and organizations
Step 2 – est. 17 March
Up to 75% capacity; organizers required to maximize use of space to allow for as much physical distancing as possible
PEI Vax Pass in effect for applicable activities and gatherings over 200 people
Step 3 – est. 7 April
No anticipated gathering limits
No Vax Pass program anticipated
January 27, 2022
Lifting of suspension of in-person worship in Nova Scotia effective immediately and on Prince Edward Island after January 31st, 2022
Dear Friends,
Effective today, I am lifting the suspension on in-person worship in our Anglican parishes in Nova Scotia. Due to current Public Health directives on Prince Edward Island, in-person worship continues to be suspended there until January 31st. In-person worship will be permitted by CPHO on PEI in February (with restrictions) so I am lifting the suspension on in-person worship in our Anglican parishes on Prince Edward Island after January 31st, 2022.
In a news briefing yesterday, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Medical Director Dr. Robert Strang provided an update on Covid-19 and its rapid spread in the form of the Omicron variant. While he noted that: “we’re not out of this wave yet,” Dr. Strang said that he believes Nova Scotia has passed the peak for Covid-19 infections and has reached the peak for hospitalizations. He was clear to point out that sustaining this depends on the continued compliance with all Public Health protocols, including masking, physical distancing, hand sanitizing and limiting our circles of contact. The high rate of vaccination among adults, children and youth, including booster shots, where applicable, is also a factor. Both the Premier and Dr. Strang said that the provincial government intends to loosen some of the Public Health restrictions in two weeks’ time, or sooner, if the epidemiology continues on a positive trajectory. This includes gathering limits.
With all of this in mind, it seems prudent to allow parishes in Nova Scotia to return to in-person worship in a cautious way at 25% capacity (to a maximum of 50 people) in keeping with the current Public Health protocols, and to allow parishes on Prince Edward Island to do the same once permitted by their Public Health authorities after January 31st, 2022. Those parishes who choose to return to in-person worship should be mindful of the fact that the strain on our healthcare system at this time is still considerable. Many healthcare workers have contracted Covid-19 or have been exposed to the virus and are isolating. Significant staff shortages have added stress to an already overtaxed healthcare system. Our responsible decisions and continued compliance with Public Health directives will help to ensure that we do not add to that strain. Dr. Strang noted yesterday that Covid-19 is not like the common cold, although some have made that comparison. As we can see from the daily updates in our two provinces, Covid-19 can have severe consequences, particularly for those who are unvaccinated or have underlying health conditions.
For those parishes deciding to return to in-person worship (which should only happen after consultation among clergy and Parish leadership), please note that congregational and choral singing are still prohibited. Only one singer, while remaining masked, is permitted to offer leadership in singing for the entire worship service. It is important to clarify that this does not mean one singer per hymn, nor does this allow for a couple or family or group singing together who are part of a “bubble.” These restrictions on singing apply to in-person, livestreamed and pre-recorded worship where that worship is taking place in a Church building where others are present (an exception would be, for instance, if a family or couple records a musical offering from their own home). Presiders and those offering readings or leading prayer should also keep their masks on while speaking, as a further precaution against the spread of the Omicron variant.
Public Health protocols require that when eating or drinking, people may remove their masks if seated and may only remove their masks for the time it takes to eat or drink. This applies to the receiving of Holy Communion (recognizing that some may prefer kneeling to sitting). Members of the congregation must remain in their pews to receive Holy Communion and should only remove their mask after the administrator has passed by.
Funerals and weddings are permitted following the protocols noted above and with the addition of Proof of Vaccination, where applicable. Receptions are not permitted at this time.
These restrictions and protocols are offered by our Public Health officials and the Diocese out of a concern for the health, safety and wellbeing of all and apply to parishes in Nova Scotia and on Prince Edward Island.
I appreciate the tremendous care our clergy and Parish leaders have been taking during this pandemic to observe these protocols and want to stress the need for us to continue to do so. I realize that many are weary. For almost two years now we have been living with a global pandemic and have had to continually adapt to changing restrictions and protocols. Covid-19 has also impacted our ability to be with family and loved ones, sometimes at significant moments and milestones. I realize the tremendous strain this has caused and continue to pray for all whose lives have been affected by Covid-19.
Just as I am encouraged to see the daylight increasing as we move through these winter months, so I pray that may all we be encouraged and sustained by the light of Christ that surrounds us always.
In peace and hope,
The Right Reverend Sandra Fyfe
Diocesan Bishop
January 19th, 2022
The following updates have been issued via Public Health. Please remember that where Public Health and Diocesan Guidelines differ, the more stringent of the two applies. We also continue to encourage communities to stay in conversation about their own risk tolerance and to adjust community guidelines accordingly.
The Bishop’s direction to closure of in-person worship is subject to review on Monday, January 24th. Unless further changes are issued between now and then, the plan is to update this directive as soon after the 24th as possible. We will be waiting for scheduled Public Health updates that week and, once received, will offer a diocesan COVID update. This will be delivered by noon on or before Thursday, January 27.
Many questions are circulating about Annual General Meetings. Considerations are being made to extend the AGM deadline but please be advised that as of today, that deadline remains the end of February 28, 2022. Online AGM’s are permitted.
In the meantime, please visit our website for the most current information at https://www.nspeidiocese.ca/programs/covid-19 or contact our Executive Director, Rev’d Ann Turner, at excutivedirector@nspeidiocese.ca, 902-420-0717, ext. 1167.
Prince Edward Island
The most recent announcements from Public Health offer the following new restrictions:
Organized gatherings, including worship services, are not permitted until further notice. This includes the following:
o Funeral ceremonies and wedding ceremonies are permitted up to 10 people plus officiants
o Wedding receptions, funeral receptions, and wakes/visitations are not permitted
o Individual households can have private visitations with the deceased (with only staff present in addition to household members)
o For worship services, staff and officiants may meet to deliver services virtually
o Drive-in worship services can occur with no limit on the number of vehicles, provided individuals aren’t exiting the vehicle other than for purposes such as to use the washroom while maintaining physical distancing and wearing masks
o These new restrictions also prohibit Annual General Meetings in person. Online AGM’s are permitted.
Archdeacon John Clarke has been able to verify with Public Health that a small team is allowed to gather in order to facilitate/record worship. While this does not allow for a choir or any other larger group, it does allow for a Leader, a musician, perhaps a soloist or instrumentalist, a reader, and a technical support person.
Nova Scotia
Suspension of in-person worship and gathering restrictions remain in effect until January 24th (please see above for scheduled review).
January 13th, 2022
"At this time, in light of the continued dominance of the Omicron variant, and in consultation with the Archdeacons of our Diocese, I am directing all parishes in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island to suspend in-person worship until at least January 24th. The situation will be reassessed at that time and an update will be offered on or before January 25th. Livestreaming or recording of services is still permitted, with only those required for worship leadership or technical assistance in attendance."
Click here for Full update from Bishop Sandra Fyfe RE: In-person Worship
December 22nd, 2021
Update effective today, December 22nd, 2021 - SUPPLEMENT TO DIOCESAN GUIDELINES
Memo from Bishop Sandra Fyfe - Suspension of in-person worship
NS Faith Guidelines from NS Government - December 21st, 2021
For the most up to date information from the PEI Government
