There has been a recent swell in positive COVID-19 cases in the United States on the whole in recent weeks. There have also been positive COVID-19 cases in SDB churches in recent weeks. These factors coupled with the weather becoming colder in much of the country (forcing some outdoor services indoor with greater restrictions) leads us to believe that there will possibly be a season of increasing restrictions on public gatherings and positive test results in most states. 

The SDB General Conference wants to continue to recommend the following steps during this continued pandemic season: 

1. We are recommending that all of our churches follow the most local (county, city, state) COVID-19 protocols for houses of worship or public gatherings issued from the appropriate local health department. 
2. We are recommending that in the event of positive COVID-19 cases in one of our churches that the church contact the appropriate local health department for protocols on how and when to gather again safely. 
3. We are recommending that in the event of positive COVID-19 cases in one of our churches that the leadership of the church contact the Crisis Management Officer (John Pethtel; jpethtel@archive.seventhdaybaptist.org and/or 608-752-5055 ext. 702) to share that there has been a positive case. (This is not for contact tracing or for collected reporting; this is for counsel and for prayer.) The SDB General Conference wants to come alongside our churches for support at this time.