Catholic churches on Cape Ann, along with other parishes in Archdiocese of Boston, will be making some changes to traditional rituals this flu season.
The threat of H1N1 influenza, or "swine flu," has the archdiocese directing its parishes to start taking germ-reducing measures as offering just the blessed hosts — not wine from a chalice — during Holy Communion and bowing at the sign of peace rather than shaking hands. Priests are also being told to avoid contact when giving Communion and are asked to drain holy water fonts, clean them with disinfecting soap and refill them with holy water on a regular basis.
These changes will start this Saturday and will be in effect until the end of the cold and flu season, according to a statement from the archdiocese. Church officials put out the advisory after consulting with local health authorities and its own church leaders.
"The best way to prevent the spread of contagious disease is to practice good hygiene," a press release from the archdiocese said yesterday.
Several calls to both St. Ann's and Our Lady of Good Voyage churches in Gloucester were not returned yesterday. Sacred Heart Parish in Manchester will post the advisory in the church's weekly bulletin, a church spokesperson said.
Jack Vondras, Gloucester's public health director, said he thinks the archdiocese's precautions are reasonable.
"These guidelines go along with the things we've been recommending," said Vondras. "Any time you have large amounts of people gathering, there is a concern."
Regular Catholic churchgoers who are sick are also being asked by the archdiocese not to attend services.
The archdiocese is not alone in trying to reduce the spread of H1N1 this year.
Many schools, day-care centers, other religious groups and workplaces are taking steps to prevent the spread of this contagious flu, said Chassea Robinson, the public health nurse at the Gloucester Health Department. These steps include encouraging people to wash their hands regularly or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, sneeze and cough into their elbows and stay home when they are sick.
"Anything churches, employers, day cares (or groups of people) can do to prevent this, is good," Robinson said.
Not everyone, however, is making dramatic changes.
"We haven't had to change any of our programs because of H1N1," said Rabbi Samuel Barth at Temple Ahavat Achim on Commercial Street in Gloucester. "We encourage all members of our community to follow the guidelines set up by the government, but we don't feel the need to add to it."
Meanwhile, the Gloucester Health Department, in partnership with Cape Ann Pediatrics, held its first H1N1 vaccine clinic on Tuesday at Addison Gilbert Hospital. About 150 doses were available, and they were administered to pregnant women and children ages 6 months to 9 years because these two groups are on the top of the priority list for the vaccine.
The Health Department expects to receive new shipments of the vaccine every week. It is working on a schedule to send to parents for when the vaccine becomes available to administer at Gloucester schoolchildren. Upcoming clinics will be posted on the city's Web site.
Donna Smith, the registered nurse at Essex Elementary School, said many of the schools on Cape Ann are keeping a close eye on influenza cases in general.
"The schools on Cape Ann are starting to see a small amount of influenza-like illnesses amongst the students," said Smith. "(The symptoms are happening) earlier than normal, and we are keeping track of the number of students and staff (who are sick) and reporting it to local boards of health."
She said there has been no major changes at the schools except for placing hand sanitizer dispensers in various spots around the buildings. The school nurses have also become "gatekeepers," she said.
"We are trying to keep healthy kids in school and sick kids at home," Smith said.
Staff writer Stacie N. Galang contributed to this report by Jonathan Phelps, who can be reached at 978-283-7000 x 3447 or gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.
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