COVID-19 Coronavirus news updates

News updates and recommendations for The Edge Church community will be posted on this page in the coming weeks.

March 26, 2020 Update:

Join the Edge Church online for the following streaming services during Easter:

March 21, 2020 Update:

  • A stay at home order is effective for Illinois residents as of 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, per Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. Edge Church members are asked to heed all orders and follow security protocols.

March 14, 2020 Update:

  • All Edge Church gatherings are cancelled until further notice in view of CDC guidelines and recommendations. We will continue to monitor our local situation closely and provide updates in the coming days. We are actively working on a plan to keep our community connected over the next few weeks, which we expect to share more about in the coming days.

  • Pray! We serve a Good Father who reigns over all He has created. We’re no longer slaves to fear—we stand in total confidence of God’s protection and provision. Our prayers are powerful and effective: for our community, our city, our country, and the world.

  • The Deacons and Elders are committed to supporting our church family during this difficult time. We don't want anyone to put themselves at risk, so if there's anything you need including groceries or supplies, medications, etc... or anything else we can do to make things easier on you, please reach out to us at deacons@edgeaurora.com or on Facebook.

March 13, 2020 Update:

  • The Edge Church will hold an online worship experience on Sunday, 3/15, at 10:00am CST. Our regular meeting place at Metea Valley High School has been closed to rentals until further notice.

  • Gather around your computer at 10am CST. Head to The Edge Church Facebook page, or connect here at EdgeAurora.com.

March 12, 2020 Update:

  • Services at Metea Valley High School have been cancelled for March 15th, 2020, and potentially the coming weeks, per safety protocols announced by district 204. The Edge Church is discussing an alternative plan, to be announced as soon as details can be finalized.

March 11, 2020 Update: The Edge Church plans to hold its regularly scheduled Sunday service on March 15th at Metea Valley High School.

  • Morning café services are suspended until further notice.

  • Hand sanitizer will be available in the auditorium and throughout the building.

Members and regular attenders are encouraged to follow the safety protocols listed below when deciding whether or not to participate in regularly scheduled services and gatherings (e.g., Community Groups).

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is one virus belonging to a group known as Coronavirus. The larger group includes the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), & Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). COVID-19 is new or “novel” which means the public doesn’t have a pre-existing immunity to it.

COVID-19 is more serious than the common cold and is more fatal than the seasonal flu. By comparison, the mortality rate (how often a patient dies from the disease) of the seasonal flu is 0.1% whereas the mortality rate of COVID-19 is approximately 4%. That number increases if the patient has underlying health conditions or is particularly vulnerable due to age or other factors.

COVID-19 has a delay (2-14 days) of the presence of symptoms, meaning that someone can have the virus and be contagious without any signs that the patient is ill.

As of March 10, 2020, there has been one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Kane County, IL, which has no obvious link to the patient having travelled or encountered someone with the virus.

What you CAN do

There are some easy measures that we can take as a community to minimize the risk of passing along COVID-19 or any other communicable illness.

Here’s a summary of things to consider:

  • Avoid close contact. It’s very easy to pass a virus with a handshake or hug.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water; use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.

  • Avoid touching your face, when possible.

  • If you or a household member is sick, consider staying home from community activities until your household is free of illness. This is hard to do, but could save a vulnerable member of our community.

Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Members of The Edge Church should consider the following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). For more information about COVID-19 from the CDC, visit cdc.gov.

Clean your hands often.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

  • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact (i.e. “social distancing”).

Stay home if you’re sick.

Cover coughs and sneezes.

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.

  • Throw used tissues in the trash.

  • Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Wear a facemask if you are sick.

  • If you are sick:  You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. Learn what to do if you are sick.

  • If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.

Clean and disinfect

  • Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

  • If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.