COVID risks, including Long COVID, are still unpredictable and serious, especially for those who are most vulnerable. The Meetinghouse is nevertheless open to serve those in our community who want to return physically and are comfortable with the risks involved.

In April 2023 Multnomah’s monthly Meeting for Worship for Business considered and approved updates to the Meetinghouse COVID protocols. As of that Meeting the following are in force.

The Meeting requires all adult Friends to be vaccinated before entering the Meetinghouse. Children and youth are no longer required to be vaccinated.

Wearing a high quality mask (KN95, N95, KF94) helps to protect you from COVID. With that in mind, the Meeting continues to require masks for Sunday Worship, including Meeting for Worship for Business on 3rd Sundays, but they may be removed while speaking during worship and announcements. Masks are recommended but not required at other times in the Meetinghouse,. This provides greater protection against the spread of infection and comfort to those who are still more susceptible to infection due to age, underlying conditions, or compromised immune systems.

COVID capacity limits for the Meeting Room and the Social Hall have been removed. Air purifiers will be running in all spaces where people are present, and should be on the highest setting. During spoken ministry and announcements, air purifiers may be briefly turned down or off if necessary for clarity. In most cases, proper use of a microphone will make this unnecessary.

While our guidelines help make the Meetinghouse space safer, please be aware that we can’t guarantee that you are fully safe within the building. Please enter in awareness of the risks and in a spirit of caring for those who join you here. Do your part by masking, maintaining distance from your fellow worshippers, helping attend to the air purifiers, and being vaccinated.

Vaccinations are by far our strongest tool for controlling COVID. Whether or not you plan to enter the Meetinghouse, the committee strongly recommends that all members of the community who are eligible get vaccinated, including getting the latest boosters (which currently provide the best protection against Omicron and its variants).