It’s Official: Live Service for March 20
Note: See updated Covid Protocols announced Sept. 8, 2022.
Statistics Favor Temple Re-Opening for Ohigan
The BTSD Temple Board of Directors will proceed with Sunday’s March 20 Ohigan service with on=site attendance by reservation only. In an earlier announcement, we cautioned that if health statistics showed a spike along hospitalizations or positivity rates, we were prepared to convert to a service only available by online means.
With this good news, people will be able to plan accordingly to attend either in person (by reservation) or virtually, in a YouTube livestream hosted on the Temple’s YouTube Channel.
More information on the service can be found here.
Reserve In-Person Attendance Here
Reservations are collected here, with a cutoff at midnight on Saturday, March 19. We are limiting attendance to 100 attendees. Currently we expect that number to accommodate the level of interest.
No Walk-ins; Alternative Is to View Online
Currently only those with reservations may attend. The Board appreciates your patience and understanding with this restriction; as an alternative, those who wish an alternative can view the service by YouTube livestream.
No special login is required; the YouTube channel can be found here. As this may be a new experience for the Sangha, tips will be posted on the Website tomorrow (Saturday, March 19).
Key Statistic
The Temple is encouraged by the drop in the leading indicator of Positivity. The number continues to decline; see below for an image from the San Diego County’s Covid Statistcs website.
(At last report, the Hospitalization Rate was also in the safe range. That statistic is not currently being reported by the County, perhap because it is now recognized as a trailing indicator.)
Please review the full list of recommendations from the Board of Directors below, approved last month, relating to our re-opening for in-person services.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IN-PERSON REOPENING
In anticipation to establish the return to in-person religious gatherings, the temple will focus on Sunday, March 20, the observance of the Spring Ohigan, as a target date to reopen.
The Board of Directors have approved the following protocols and procedures as recommended by the temple’s Reopening Committee for the return of in-person services:
County of San Diego’s COVID-19 trigger dashboard data for the following: Increasing Hospitalizations and Testing Positivity. Both metrics must be in the green category in order to return to in-person services. The reopening committee will monitor the numbers.
Vaccinations are strongly recommended for individuals who are eligible to receive one, but not required.
Reservations are necessary in advance of attending a service. This will aid in contact tracing if needed.
Capacity of the Hondo will be limited to 100 attendees.
Face coverings must be worn at all times inside the facilities, regardless of vaccination status. (Masks will be available for those who do not have one.)
If you are experiencing symptoms of any type of illness, please do not attend the service. The health and safety of the entire Sangha is first and foremost.
Limited seating in the Hondo will be created for attendees who feel more comfortable with physical distancing. Sections for traditional open seating will also be allowed.
In-person services will also be livestreamed (see explanation [below]).
Hand sanitizers will be available throughout the facility, including the Hondo. The Hondo will be properly ventilated with open windows.
Dharma School classes will be conducted under their own guidance.
A livestream will be broadcast from the Hondo to allow viewers to join the service if they do not wish to attend in person. Unlike Zoom, livestreaming is a one-way viewing platform with no interaction among participants. Example: Dharma School students who livestream a service will not be able to interact with classmates.
If the County of San Diego’s COVID-19 trigger data for either of the two categories mentioned in section one moves in a negative direction, the in-person service will be canceled on the Friday prior to the event and will return to a Zoom or YouTube platform. All registered attendees will be notified.
Requirements for having in-person services will also apply to funerals and memorial services, as well as group activities in the Annex Hall.
The Reopening Committee continues to monitor the county’s COVID-19 trigger dashboard numbers and is updating its protocols and procedures for a safe return to indoor religious gatherings and other activities. It is the efforts of the committee to ensure a safe and comfortable return for everyone.
Please contact a temple board member with any questions and concerns, and check the website for updates.
Thank you very much for your patience and understanding.
In Gassho,
BTSD Board of Directors