No Local COVID-19 Deaths Reported on Monday

City officials reported five additional cases of the Coronavirus on Monday and no additional deaths as the case count moved to 853 and the death toll remained at 82.

The new numbers came on a day when the state seemed to speed up the reopening process first setting guidelines allowing churches to reopen and then announcing steps to for in-store retail.

The guidelines include distancing measures, including limits on the number of people attending a service, and protocols for disinfecting and cleaning churches and areas where people congregate. Hand sanitizer stations are recommended. The guidelines also call for cleaning microphones and other shared items.

The state is calling for limiting attendance to 100 people or 25 percent of the building’s capacity, whichever is lower. That limit stays in effect for 21 days after the house of worship reopens, then conditions will be reviewed by health officials.

Face coverings are strongly recommended. The plan, outlined a dozen pages released by the state, also discourages the passing of offering plates and other items between people.

“Consider modifying practices that are specific to particular faith traditions that might encourage the spread of COVID-19,” the statement posted on the state’s Covid-19 response page said. “Examples are discontinuing kissing of ritual objects, allowing rites to be performed by fewer people, avoiding the use of a common cup, offering communion in the hand instead of on the tongue, providing pre-packed communion items on chairs prior to service, etc.”

State health officials also have recommended having additional services or implementing a reservation system to prevent overcrowding.

The 13-page document also suggests temporarily eliminating group performances and practices for organizations like a choir.