Dear St. Lukers,
St. Luke’s COVID-19 Task Force has been carefully monitoring Coronavirus cases in our area. As of January 2, the rolling fourteen-day average positivity rate in Orange County was 10% and climbing (a rate not seen since mid-July 2020). With the increase in local cases and percent positivity, and in keeping the health and safety of our congregation, community, and staff as our highest priority, St. Luke’s is temporarily pausing on-campus worship.
This decision follows the guidelines set forth by the Task Force in 2020 and takes into account scientific data including:
- Hospitalizations for COVID-19 are at, or approaching, an all-time high for Orlando Health and Advent Health systems since the onset of the pandemic (as reported to St. Luke’s by hospital representatives)
- Since Christmas, we have seen three consecutive days of greater than 1,000 positive cases per day in Orange County with over 1,200 new cases reported on December 31
- The highest number of daily positive cases in Orange County has surpassed the worst month recorded back in July.
