We know our mission and ministry members are on COVID overload. Over the last couple of weeks, many have told us that their staff has been reduced by up 15 percent with a new wave of team members testing positive (many with the omicron variant). Some have also reported that positive test results are more than that in the mission/ministry general population. Fortunately, hospitalizations are nowhere near what they were a year ago, although we are aware of several serious cases as well as the deaths of two member ministry staffers. Our hearts and prayers are with you all.
We want you to know that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its guidance for shelters. They are recommending a 10-day quarantine for residents, regardless of vaccination and booster status. During periods of critical staffing shortages, facilities may consider shortening the quarantine period for staff to ensure continuity of operations. Decisions to shorten quarantine in these settings should be made in consultation with state, local, or health departments and should take into consideration the context and characteristics of the facility. Specific detailed guidance for homeless populations can be found on the CDC website.
We’ll host a member-wide Zoom call on Wednesday, February 2, at noon Mountain Time (that’s 2:00 p.m. ET, 1:00 p.m. CT, and 11:00 a.m. PT). Dr. Emily Mosites from the CDC will join us again to provide updated, pertinent information and insight about the COVID-19 situation. Members will have the opportunity to ask questions about current and future COVID-related concerns. To register members from your team, check the most recent Street Smart for detailed instructions, or sign-in to your member portal and click the ad at the top of the page.