Based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and after consulting with physicians, communicable disease specialists and other health professionals, with federal, state, and local officials as well as other dioceses around the country, the Archdiocese of Baltimore has developed the following guidelines to help prevent any spread of the seasonal flu or the H1N1 (Swine) flu viruses.

The most important guidelines are simple and dictated by common sense.

• Clean your hands often with soap and warm water and use an alcohol based hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of any germs.
• Cover your mouth and nose with your sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick or have flu like symptoms (fever ≥ 100⁰F or chills and a cough or sore throat), you should stay at home and keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. If you are sick or have an easily communicable disease you are not bound by the obligation to participate in Mass on Sunday. Stay at home and return to church when you are well. (For longer illnesses, contact the parish office so that arrangements can be made to have someone visit you with Holy Communion.)

The same common sense applies to liturgical celebrations where we must be especially attentive to the above practices and also to the appearance of modeling these practices for those we serve. In particular,

For all of the Faithful:

• If you are sick or have an easily communicable disease you are not bound by the obligation to participate in Mass on Sunday. Stay at home and return to church when you are well. (For longer illnesses, contact the parish office so that arrangements can be made to have someone visit you with Holy Communion.)
• At the time of the Sign of Peace during Mass, remember that there is no single gesture required for this exchange. Some may prefer to shake hands, while others prefer to offer a simple bow. At the sign of peace, one may simply say “Peace be with you” to which the response is “Amen”.
• Those who wish to receive Communion on the tongue should tilt their head slightly back and extend their tongue. Those who wish to receive Communion in the hand should place one hand on top of the other and immediately consume the host.

For Ministers of the Eucharist (Ordinary and Extraordinary):

• After arriving at church, wash your hands well with soap and warm water. Dry them with a clean towel and use a hand sanitizer. Parishes should have sanitizer easily available in the sacristy for this purpose. When folding your hands, don’t raise them up to touch your face. Use the hand sanitizer again before and after distribution of Holy Communion.
• As you yourself receive Communion, be careful not to get saliva on your fingers.
• In distributing the consecrated Host, there is no increased risk either to the minister or to the communicant in distributing either in the hand or on the tongue. At all times, though, you should carefully avoid direct contact between your fingers and the hand or tongue of the communicant.
• The question of whether or not to distribute the Precious Blood is left to each individual parish community. Common sense dictates, though, that when you are sick, you should refrain from receiving from the cup.
• When administering the chalice, be sure to wipe both the inside and outside of the chalice’s rim after reception by each communicant. Use your thumb and forefinger through the purificator to “press” against both sides of the rim of the chalice. Then turn the cup a bit for the next communicant. It is essential to shift the purificator often and refold it after several communicants so that you are not wiping with the same part of the purificator over and over again. Using the same section of the purificator repeatedly can spread germs.
• After the chalices have been purified, they should be carefully cleaned with anti-bacterial soap and warm water then dried with clean towels (or fresh purificators).

Perhaps the most important role we will play in this flu season is to provide comfort. As disciples, we are called to be God’s reassuring and compassionate presence to those facing stress and uncertainty, especially the fearful and most vulnerable.