Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
Updated at 12:10 pm | April 2, 2020
SC Conference IPHC Response & Information
CDC recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 10 people or more throughout the U.S.
The President’s guidelines advised that older people and those with underlying health conditions “stay home and away from other people.”
Officials recommended that large swaths of the population isolate themselves and everyone avoid social gatherings or groups of more than 10 people.
Current US Statistics
Confirmed US cases: 226,374
Confirmed Deaths: 5,316
Confirmed at 12:05 pm April 2, 2020
Current SC Statistics
Confirmed SC cases: 1,293
Confirmed SC deaths: 26
Confirmed at 12:10 pm April 2, 2020
Current Worldwide Statistics
Confirmed Worldwide cases: 981,221
Confirmed Worldwide Deaths: 50,230
Confirmed at 12:05 pm April 2, 2020
Greetings!
First of all, I wanted to say thank you for our love and prayers during my recent surgical procedures. I’m gaining strength daily. Tamara and I were overwhelmed by our conference family’s encouragement.
I wanted to get some practical suggestions to all pastors and churches from the Conference level regarding the corona virus concerns to assist church leaders in your decision making process. You can find information at www.IPHC.org. As states are starting to set limits on sizes of events that would dictate some things. Please cooperate with the suggestions and mandates of the CDC, State and Federal Governments. Remember authority is set by God for our good. Otherwise, we recommend intentional steps such as communication in bulletins, social media and phone, etc., not to attend, if sick. The goal here is stopping its spread. Go to them at home with precautions, if you choose, and lay hands on them. Have hand sanitizer available, encourage greetings without handshakes or hugs. I saw that in Asia they are greeting by touching feet! Have a team of people to wipe down high touch areas such as bathrooms, door handles, children’s toys, before, during and after every service. I’d suggest you have your intercessors mobilized for prayer protection, encourage those sanitizing doors, toys, etc. to pray protection as they clean. If you have suggestions, I’d love to hear them.
Make services available online for those who can’t attend. Facebook Live is the easiest. Just ask a child or teen and they can help you do that. If you need assistance regarding going online call the office and speak with Melvin. Communicate with your parishioners the ongoing need to tithe even if you can’t attend and the options of how to do so.
I’d also encourage an effort to offer the service of getting groceries/medications for the elderly. Keeping a close check on our seniors is critical during this time both in your church as well as the community. This might be a great opportunity for your youth ministry. This pandemic affords us the opportunity to be the church in new and creative ways. May the Holy Spirit give us ears to hear! Please share any of those ideas with me so I can share with others.
At this point the decision to have services rests with each local church. We don’t walk in fear, but we also walk in wisdom!
Love and appreciate you all!
Greg Amos
Bishop of the S. C. Conference IPHC
Dr. Doug Beacham advises IPHC churches and church leaders on responding to current coronavirus situation.
Dr. Doug Beacham advises IPHC churches and church leaders on responding to current coronavirus situation.
Mandates for Friday, March 27, 2020
Wash Your Hands Often to Stay Healthy
You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:
- Before, during, and after preparing food
- Before eating food
- Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
- Before and after treating a cut or wound
- After using the toilet
- After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
- After handling pet food or pet treats
- After touching garbage
To disinfect:
Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work. Use disinfectants appropriate for the surface.
Options include:
- Diluting your household bleach.
To make a bleach solution, mix:- 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water
OR - 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.
- 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water
- Alcohol solutions.
Ensure solution has at least 70% alcohol. - Other common EPA-registered household disinfectants.
Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens pdf icon[7 pages]external icon claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).