As COVID-19 cases and deaths surge in the region, many faith groups will continue to offer virtual services.
On Tuesday, . That鈥檚 down from 50%.
Congregation Temple Israel, a synagogue in Creve Coeur, had closed off the building to the public early on in the pandemic. It had also put in place a task force, which meets on a regular basis, to reevaluate its own health guidelines, changes in the community and health guidelines put out by the county health department.
Senior Rabbi Amy Feder said while the latest guidelines won鈥檛 really change what鈥檚 already been established, the congregation will continue to follow all guidance in order to keep staff, children and the community at large safe.
鈥淭o be perfectly honest, we were already following these guidelines ourselves,鈥� Feder said. 鈥淲e have really kept relatively strict guidelines from the very beginning.鈥�
All worship services and classes are held on Zoom or livestreamed. Feder said that while it has been an adjustment, many in her congregation are understanding.
鈥淓veryone knows people who have dealt with COVID before,鈥� Feder said. 鈥淎nd whether it was very serious or not, everyone wants to do what we can to keep our community safe. And I think reading what Sam Page has put out feels very reasonable.鈥�
The only time the synagogue has been open during the pandemic is for life cycle events including weddings, funerals and bar mitzvahs. Guests have been limited to 20 people.
The Archdiocese of St. Louis is following a similar plan. A statement from the archdiocese said Mass has reverted back to 25% capacity, while . Parishioners experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are asked to stay home.
The in light of the county鈥檚 new restrictions. The diocese had already put a hold on large in-person church services, allowing only 10 people inside the church at a time to livestream the service, for in-person worship or for prayer.
Bishop Deon Johnson said shifting to virtual services and adhering to guidelines is paying off.
鈥淲e have had no significant congregations that have had outbreaks,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e obviously had some parishioners in congregations who鈥檝e come down and tested positive and some clergy who鈥檝e tested positive. But because of the way our restrictions have been set up, none of those turned into superspreader events.鈥�
While there has been some fatigue among parishioners, Johnson said virtual services have brought people closer together.
鈥淧eople are tired of virtual everything at this point,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淏ut the other part of it is that I think more people are recognizing that it allows us to be a lot more connected than we have been in the past.鈥�
In Islam, like other faith groups, building community by getting together and praying is important, said Ghazala Hayat, the chairperson of the public affairs committee for the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis.
The foundation operates two mosques, Daar-ul-Islam in west county and Masjid Bilal in the city.
鈥淎 lot of people who are a little bit elderly said, 鈥業鈥檒l come, I鈥檒l be fine,鈥欌�� Hayat said. 鈥淎nd you understood where they were coming from. But you also had to make sure that they understood that there鈥檚 no way they鈥檒l know that they鈥檒l be fine, because of the way this virus spreads. So they have understood. And unfortunately since then, some community members did get affected by COVID. We lost a few people because of COVID.鈥�
Because of the reality of the virus and the spike in cases,. People are encouraged not to come to Jumuah, or Friday prayer, if they aren鈥檛 obligated to, are older than 65 or are experiencing symptoms.
Those who do come have their temperatures taken, and they must wear masks, social distance and bring their own prayer rug. And the imam is conducting Khutbah 鈥� or services 鈥� via livestream.
While the shift has been a challenge, Hayat said leaders in the community continue to push the message that adhering to safety precautions doesn鈥檛 compromise a person's faith.
鈥淲e are commanded to take care of our health and listen to experts,鈥� Hayat said. 鈥淎nd also most important, this way we are also protecting other people. That's the basic tenet of our faith, that you have to protect other people. You cannot hurt anybody because of our actions.鈥�
Rabbi Feder of Temple Israel shares a similar sentiment.
鈥淎s Jews or people of faith, our overarching priority is pikuach nefesh, which is the saving of life,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are going to do everything we can to make sure that every life is given value and every life is protected as much as possible.鈥�
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