COVID-19 Page 5

Denver, Colorado … What we would like to share is not a repeat of the instructions sent out by the CDC, but a special focus on our lifestyle. The reason that this is so important as it addresses the second stage of fighting this virus. The important precautions of social distancing, hand washing etc. are very important to protect us from the virus.  But if the virus gets past these precautions, we can still add an important layer of protection, especially to those most vulnerable. Our body has a powerful immune system but there are things that we can do to either enhance or decrease its effectiveness. The following are real, healthy lifestyle practices that each of us should take seriously.

These steps are especially valuable for those with preexisting conditions and are at high risk.  But you are not powerless, there are things you can do now to perhaps even save your life.

1. Avoid high fatty foods and sugar:

For many of us, our daily routine has changed, and we are probably under added stress.  It is easy to turn to comfort foods and just eat more than normal.  These two changes in our diet will reduce our immune system considerably.  This is not a time to ignore our most powerful ally.  Eat regular healthy meals, avoid refined foods (sugar) and don’t snack.

2. Eat high nutrient foods:
   1. Eat more fruits and vegetables, especially dark green vegies and bright fruits such as berries
   2. Eat more cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, red cabbage, kale and brussels sprouts, which activate the disease fighting white blood cells.

3. Get plenty of exercise:
   1. Exercise increase the circulation and gets the white blood cells out where they can fight the invaders, in this case the virus.
   2. Exercising outdoors is best because you get fresh air and sunlight as well. The Ultraviolet light kills viruses and increases the production of Vit. D, another disease fighter.

4. Vitamins can help, too:
   1. You can take vitamins like D3 or vitamin C or get it from the sun and the foods you eat.
   2. A few more supplements that are very powerful are n-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) and Zink that is toxic to the coronavirus.

Don’t just sit around and worry, follow good hygiene, get out and move, and start eating more whole plant foods in your diet.  And you will take a big bite out of this threat and just maybe you will have a healthier life because of it.

For an update on what you can do, see our Facebook page, check out the videos and comments.  or go to our website www.rmlc.online

—Rick Mautz, The Rocky Mountain Lifestyle Center

Denver, Colorado … While we have had to postpone our “Treasured” Mother/Daughter retreat March 29 due to COVID-19, the commitment of the women of the Rocky Mountain Conference can’t be stopped! When it comes to compassion, care, and service, things might just look a little different for a bit.

More than one of our women have posted on social media that they are willing to get groceries or other supplies for anyone who needs them. Others have suggested are already writing cards to send to shut-in elderly people. Still other women are sharing ideas for parents from great websites they’ve seen, including free art classes for kids, virtual museum tours and more,

You are welcome to join in our Thursday night Zoom Video Conference Bible study at 6:30 p.m. each Thursday –  https://zoom.us/j/197074881  At this point, we are still moving forward with our Women Called to Lead leadership training for all women to be held in Grand Junction April 24-25. More details can be found at www.rmcsda.org/women. We haven’t postponed or cancelled our commitment to living out loud for Jesus!

—DeeAnn Bragaw; photo supplied

Columbia, Maryland … Due to the rapidly changing situation with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the administration of the North American Division (NAD) has elected to transition its corporate office in Columbia, Maryland, to a virtual operation. Starting at the end of business on March 17, 2020, and moving forward until March 30, 2020, all employees will be required to work from home, and all efforts are being made to ensure that day-to-day operations will continue without interruption. NAD administration will evaluate the situation on March 27, 2020, to decide if virtual operations need to be extended.

“We are confident God will be with His people during this time,” Daniel R. Jackson, NAD president, said to employees during the March 16 staff meeting announcing the transition to a virtual office.

Earlier, the administration announced the cancellation or postponement of all NAD-sponsored meetings and events, as well as travel for all NAD staff through June 24, 2020.

NAD leadership is urging all union and conference leaders in the division to carefully consider advisements given by their state and local governments regarding the safety of their communities.

Everyone plays an important role in helping to contain the spread of COVID-19. As Christians, we are called to treat all our neighbors with love and compassion. We must give prayerful thought to how we can be a compassionate blessing to those most impacted by this situation. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother’” (Zechariah 7:9, NKJV).

Click here to read this statement on the NAD website; click here to read the previous statement from the NAD on COVID-19.

—NAD NewsPoints

Denver, Colorado … The coronavirus COVID19 pandemic is affecting all of us. The Rocky Mountain Conference recommends taking steps to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.

“It’s amazing how quickly this world can change.  It’s of great comfort to know that God is in charge. He is still on the throne!  We will continue to share with our churches what is helpful concerning coronavirus. Please follow all local and state guidelines. Our church needs to be mindful of the whole population, not just our church community,” said Ed Barnett, RMC president.

“We need to closely monitor and follow guidelines of the local administrations. There is a wave of school closures, restrictions on holding public gatherings, and individuals over the age of 70 are being discouraged from attending any public events. Our pastors and local congregations are to take appropriate steps to recognize their local worship needs and options, as well as needs of the communities they serve,” he added.

Several states have declared a State of Emergency. While these mandates do not directly impact our congregations, as members of society, we must display careful vigilance for our people throughout the Rocky Mountain Conference. We must seek to cooperate with collective public health actions to help protect the health and wellness of our communities.

The situation touches all of our people and our communities, RMC leaders recognize. This is a time for all Seventh-day Adventist churches, schools and ministries within our territory to be proactive and prayerful as well as to take every-day preventative actions.

Several churches in Colorado are reviewing worship options, and a number of pastors offer worship participation via video-streaming. RMC is recommending that all churches refrain from potlucks and fellowship events. Without elaborating, we are in the midst of a developing crisis.

Cathy Kissner, RMC ACS director, recommends our church members in Colorado to log on to the State of Colorado information page. “This page carries information about the recommended actions by the State of Colorado for its population.  I feel this information should be shared with Pastors, schools, and day-care centers. The age also tracks the number of cases found per day.”https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/2019-novel-coronavirus

“Stay informed by watching news and information, including the local health authority announcements. Use common sense. We all are in this together,” commented Eric Nelson, RMC VP for administration.

Prayer is part of our response, as well. DeeAnn Bragaw, RMC prayer coordinator is inviting all to join in a special prayer event on Sunday morning, March 15, at 10 a.m. “We will be hosting a Rocky Mountain Conference Prayer FAITH OVER FEAR conference call to pray unitedly for our homes, churches, communities, and world in light of the coronavirus outbreak.  RMC president, Ed Barnett will be on the line, and together we’ll PRAY! Please spread the word and plan to join us at 605-468-8026 access code 1010801#.”

North American Division administration has released Guidance for Church in North America during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The leadership of the North American Division of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (NAD), in consultation with the leaders of the nine union conferences in the NAD, is providing some guidance for the churches and schools in our territories regarding the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

As Christians we have a responsibility to care for each other and ourselves. With the World Health Organization now declaring COVID-19 to be a pandemic, we should be seen as part of the solution rather than potentially becoming part of the problem.

In seeking to limit the potential impact of COVID-19, the NAD administration has voted that all staff should cease all travels immediately. Administration has prohibited work-related travel until June 24, 2020,” the statement says. Read the full statement here: https://www.nadadventist.org/news/nad-administration-provides-guidance-church-north-america-during-covid-19-pandemic

—RMCNews

Loveland, Colorado … Campion Academy is extending its spring break until March 30, says Don Reeder, principal. On March 13 he issued the following statement:

“With considerable deliberation and prayer, Campion Academy and HMS Richards Adventist School continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation. At this time, both schools are extending our Spring Break through March 27 and plan to resume classes on March 30. 

Campion Academy will not be holding any online classes during the week of March 23-27. To minimize exposure and to compensate for the extended Spring Break, the April home leave is canceled.

Currently canceled trips and school events for Campion Academy are listed below.

The COVID-19 responses from education systems are constantly evolving. We are continually assessing the situation and will be in communication with our parents and community frequently regarding further actions following Spring Break. Campion Academy will strive to provide updated information to parents in a timely manner for planning purposes. Please consistently monitor your email and our Facebook account, as we seek to keep you updated on all developments.

The following events and tours for Campion Academy are canceled:

• Academy Days – March 27 & 28
• Music Tour – April 15-19
• April Home Leave – April 23-27
• Spring Soccer and Baseball – all games and practices through April 6

Trips that are under review for possible cancellation or postponement are:

• Junior/Senior Banquet – April 12
• Senior Class Trip – April 22-28
• Moab Biology Trip – April 29-May 3

Please join us in doing all you can to maintain your health and praying for wisdom through these unprecedented events.”

—Campion Academy News

Denver, Colorado … Every day we are seeing communities take unprecedented measures to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. The Rocky Mountain Conference along with Adventist Risk Management, Inc. is committed to providing resources to help mitigate the impact of this coronavirus pandemic.

Attached you will find guidance for churches and schools on how to be proactive in planning for the possibility of disruption in everyday life. We have provided our schools with a template they can use to communicate with parents about measures the school is taking to minimize the risk of transmission.

Adventist Risk Management has also created a video to be shared with our churches and schools that promotes everyday hygiene habits that will help reduce the spread of germs. The video has been translated into 3 different languages:

English https://youtu.be/HXV74zb0Vcg

Spanish https://youtu.be/ELaj89qw-Ck

Portuguese https://youtu.be/wYqHu18HSkY

Please note that all of these resources and more can be found on the Adventist Risk Management website at https://adventistrisk.org/covid19.

Orlando, Florida … AdventHealth has launched a coronavirus information site for the Adventist Church with videos covering topics like prevention, symptoms, spread and some special considerations for congregations.

You can find the first few episodes of the video podcast series at AdventHealth.com/Coronavirus-Resource-Hub/Church-Resources, in addition to FAQs, blogs and CDC resources. Future episodes will be posted as we learn more about the virus and we have additional updates. We will also set up a coronavirus information site for schools in the near future.

To download the video files, click the links below:
Prevention
Spread
Treatment
Important Considerations for Congregations

We invite you share the site and the videos on your platforms and with the congregations in your territories. Be sure to check back often for new content.

—AdventHealth News Service and Adventist Risk Management; photo courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Denver, Colorado … Adventist Risk Management released Information Regarding Coronavirus COVID-19. We would like to share it with our Rocky Mountain Conference pastors and congregations. “This is relevant information how to react to a situation which does concern all of us. As we meet with each other, go about our daily lives, organize church worship and events throughout our Conference, we would like all of us to be aware and act wisely,” says Ed Barnett, RMC president.

“Let us commit ourselves and the communities in which we live in prayer and engage in preventing as much as we can what is looming in the world today,” he adds.

The following information deals with precautions and prevention. As this is a “fluid” situation, availability of tests will likely increase information of new cases of the virus. Some of the details about the COVID-19 spread change daily.

Background Information

COVID-19 was discovered in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. It is an aggressive respiratory infection that is believed to be transmitted through droplet spread when infected people cough or sneeze. The virus can gain access to the body through the respiratory tract, mainly through the nose and mouth. Symptoms are similar to the common influenza strain and include fever, cough, muscle pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue.

Initially isolated to mainland China, the World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting for the first time that there are more new cases being discovered outside China than from within China.[1] As of their March 1 report, the WHO is reporting 87,137 confirmed cases, with only 7,169 of those outside of China.[2]

In the United States, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting 494 presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, meaning they have tested positive by a public health laboratory and are pending confirmation by the CDC. This includes at least 2 cases of where the virus was contracted by individuals with no relevant travel history.[3] The first death due to COVID-19 in the United States was reported in Washington State on February 29[4].

Precaution and Prevention

Using good hygiene practices can further reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19. Here are some simple preventative measures you can take:

• If you are symptomatic (fever, coughing, sneezing, body aches, etc.) do not go out in public where you can infect others. The common influenza/flu virus is also very active right now and has killed more people already this year than COVID-19. If you’re sick, stay home!
• Frequently wash hands with soap and warm water, scrubbing hands for at least 20 seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer may also be effective.
• Follow proper etiquette when sneezing or coughing. Sneeze and cough into your elbow rather than your hand to avoid spreading the germs.
• Consider using a mask when traveling or in public areas. Masks should especially be used if you are coughing or sneezing frequently.
• Maintain at least 3 feet (1 meter) between yourself and other people in public, if possible. Avoid close contact with those who cough or are sneezing.
• Avoid touching/rubbing your eyes, nose and mouth, especially in public places where germs are easily spread.
• If you develop a cough or experience changes in your breathing, see your primary care physician as soon as possible. Be prepared share your travel history with the doctor.
• Avoid open markets and direct contact with animals/animal products
• Use careful food-safety practices (cook food thoroughly, wash produce well, use only pasteurized milk, etc.).

Resources

This is an ongoing situation that is evolving quickly. For updated information regarding the spread of the virus and travel advisories please consult the following resources:

World Health Organization – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
International SOS – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak
U.S. State Department – Current Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

[1] World Health Organization, Coronavirus Situation Report #37. February 26, 2020. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200226-sitrep-37-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=2146841e_2

[2] World Health Organization, Coronavirus Situation Report #41, March 1, 2020. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200301-sitrep-41-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=6768306d_2

[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S. February 29, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary. February 29, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html