Good Evening! Today’s edition of the St. James Check-In is all about Contact Tracing-the whys and hows we will be doing it here at the parish. If you are coming back to church for public worship, you may want to save this for future reference.

Why Do We Require Pre-Registration for Mass and Sacraments?

Since we are now in our second week of reopening, we want to address the question as to why we require pre-registration for Masses. Quite simply, the Illinois Bishops believe this is an important endeavor to help keep our faith communities safer and stop the spread of COVID-19 through the use of contact tracing. 

We are currently required to maintain two weeks of records at a time. That way we have the ability to contact those who were in attendance should we receive the news of someone testing positive for COVID-19 after having been at a particular Mass or Sacramental celebration in the past two weeks.

This is Where We Need Your Help

It is our hope those of you who are attending public worship, should you have the unfortunate experience of receiving a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, will contact us to let us know what date(s) and time(s) and event(s) you were present at St. James. That way we can contact those you were near during the time you may have been infectious. Your name is not required. 

In addition, your report of a positive diagnosis allows our cleaning crew to take extra steps to take to ensure the safety of those who will continue to gather in our facilities.

How to Anonymously Report a Positive Diagnosis

To maintain your anonymity when you report a positive diagnosis, please call our dedicated Contact Tracing Voicemail Line at 630-469-8324 and leave a message with the date(s) and time(s) and event(s) you were present at St. James. You are not required to give your name.

The other option for reporting is to email contacttracing@stjamesge.org. This is less anonymous, but be assured your identity will be kept confidential. Please include the essential information we need within your email. 

Our parish staff member, Patrick Mooney, will check both the email account and the voice mail line daily and follow through with the appropriate steps to contact those who may have been exposed to the virus.

For Those Who May Have Been Potentially Exposed

Those who may have been exposed will be contacted via the email address or phone number you used to pre-register for Mass or Sacrament. We will give you the information you need to know to make informed decisions about your health.

Please Be Aware of Contact Tracing Scams

Finally, below is an article addressing Contact Tracing Scams that are beginning to pop up in this new way of life in which we find ourselves living. We invite you to be informed and to be careful moving forward.

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/05/covid-19-contact-tracing-text-message-scams