Bend-area churches, schools adapt to deal with COVID-19 concerns

Leaders urge limited physical contact among churchgoers

(Update: Adding video, information from Bend-La Pine Schools)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) - A Catholic church and a Methodist church in Bend have implemented significant changes to services in an effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, also known as novel coronavirus. Bend-La Pine Schools also are stepping up efforts to keep the virus at bay

After six people died from the virus in Washington and three people in Oregon have tested positive for the illness, leaders at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and Bend Church, a First United Methodist church in Bend, said Monday they hope to keep parishioners safe by encouraging them to refrain from holding hands during prayer or during the sign of peace. 

The churches also have placed bans on drinking wine out of the shared cup and receiving the bread from hand to mouth during the rite of communion.

Deacon Steve McGlone, with St. Francis of Assisi, said the church has decided to stop serving coffee and donuts in the narthex, or lobby area, after masses. They also will not be serving tamales after the Spanish mass.

"The other thing we've done is that some Catholics prefer out of reverence to receive the host on their tongue instead of in their hand, so those people we are asking to please receive communion last," McGlone said.

In addition, the St. Francis of Assisi Parish School is adding proper hygiene education to its curriculum. McGlone said middle school students will teach younger students how to properly wash their hands by using a 'special soap' that shows how many germs are on their hands.

Pastor Jen Stuart with Bend Church told NewsChannel 21 the church is strictly limiting physical contact, but says there are other ways to greet others without touching them directly.

“Communion is an old traditional rite, so we don’t want to throw it out completely,” Stuart said.

Stuart has also asked janitorial staff to schedule additional cleanings. She said what she is most concerned about is the church's breakfast for homeless people typically held on Wednesdays.

Bottles of hand sanitizer and tissue boxes now line the aisles in both St. Francis of Assisi and Bend Church.

Meanwhile, state Rep. Cheri Helt, R-Bend, has asked local elected officials, county health officials and local health professionals to gather Monday evening at the downtown Bend library for a roundtable discussion about the local preparedness and current work being done to address the potential threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

They also will get a tour of a new COVID Joint Information Center set up by agencies partnered in the Central Oregon Emergency Information Network across Wall Street at the Bend-La Pine Schools Education Center.

“It is important that we efficiently and effectively communicate with our community to tell our neighbors about the work that is being done to prevent a public health crisis,” Helt said. “I have asked our Deschutes County commissioners, Deschutes County health officials, Bend City Council members and local health professionals to join me in a round table discussion regarding our preparedness for the COVID-19 coronavirus.”

The Bend-La Pine School District also announced some changes, including more cleaning of "high-touch" surfaces and allowing custodians to work more hours. Other steps are possible, if necessary, such as discontinuing self-service lunches.

For more information about how the Bend-La Pine School District is responding to COVID-19 concerns, visit their website.