The Health Care Committee of the province, along with the provincial administration, has issued the following guidelines for the friars in dealing with the Coronavirus Crisis.  We encourage all our friars to study and discuss these guidelines, and to take appropriate action to safeguard their own health, the health of their brothers, our employees and volunteers, as well as those who depend on our ministry.
 
Epidemiologists tell us that those most vulnerable to catch the coronavirus are those who are older (60 years and over), and have pre-existing health issues, such as heart conditions, diabetes, asthma, and other medical factors which compromise one’s immune systems.
 
Personal Concerns

1. If you are developing cold or flu-like symptoms, including running a fever, coughing, sneezing, or shortness of breath, please consult your health care provider and follow local guidelines. 
2. If you have come into contact with anyone diagnosed with coronavirus, please be extra alert to the above symptoms.  Consider a period of self-quarantine.  
3. Wash your hands often with soap and hot water.
4. Use hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes on hands and surfaces.
5. Avoid touching your face, especially your mouth, nose, or eyes.
6. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.  Use tissues when blowing your nose and dispose of them properly. Do not re-use soiled tissues.
7. Stay home if you are not feeling well.
8. Public transportation should be avoided, if possible. Limit travel to what is truly necessary.  
9. Keep your immune system strong with good nutrition, proper rest, and hydration.  

 
Fraternity Concerns

1. Do not share drinking glasses, eating utensils, cups, or other items
2. Thoroughly clean frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as countertops, light switches, doorknobs, cabinet handles, computer keyboards.  
3. Do not share food items or eat from each other’s plates.
4. Try to limit physical contact with others. Avoid shaking hands, hugging, etc. 
5. If someone is showing signs of a cold or fever, stay at least three feet away from them.
6. Avoid going out in areas where there are large crowds.
7. Be particularly aware of our elderly and sick friars.  Please be attentive to their needs.
8. Check before visiting friars in hospitals or nursing facilities.  Many have banned visitors for the time being.

 
Ministerial Concerns

1. Be mindful of and observe diocesan regulations regarding liturgical celebrations
2. When celebrating Mass, avoid using the purificator to wipe your mouth.  This is a great way of spreading germs. 
3. When concelebrating, priests should consider receiving communion through intinction rather than drinking from a common chalice. 
4. Many dioceses have suspended communion from a common cup, communion on the tongue, shaking hands at the sign of peace.
5. Other areas of concern are the use of holy water fonts, veneration of sacred objects (such as kissing a relic), use of items such as missalettes and hymnals, and other items which may transmit body fluids or germs.   Try to avoid licking your finger(s) when turning pages during Mass, especially when using liturgical books and rituals. 
6. Please avoid physical touch of other people, including shaking hands during the Sign of Peace, or at the end of Mass.  
7. Discourage those who are obviously sick (coughing, sneezing, blowing of noses, etc.) from attending Mass.  Even if it is just an allergy or common cold, we must not take a chance that it is something more serious. 
8. Consider postponing events which may attract a large number of people, such as dinner dances, fund raising activities.  
9. Pray for those who are sick.  Pray for healing.  Pray for a speedy end to the coronavirus crisis.  

 
 
In Conclusion
As Franciscan Friars, we have many obligations- to ourselves, to our fraternity and those we live with, to our province, and to our parishioners and those whose spiritual welfare we have been entrusted with.  It is important for us to stay informed on the latest developments, be familiar with local, community, and governmental information, and, most of all, use common sense in all of this.  While we should not overreact to what is happening, we also should not be complacent or ignore what we see and hear around us.  We must believe the scientists and the medical professionals.  Err on the side of caution and be mindful of each other.  
 
For more information check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website ( www.cdc.gov/coronavirus ) as well as state and local web information.  Please notify the Provincial Minister if any of the friars are diagnosed with the coronavirus.