Diocese of Montana Newsletter, March 2020
Musings from Bishop Marty
I guess it might be topical that I am wearing both hats today: both as an Episcopal bishop and as an infectious disease veterinarian/epidemiologist. The U.S. Centers of Disease Control has issued an advisory about the new Corona virus in humans, Covid-19. The CDC and the World Health Organization are predicting a high likelihood of a pandemic with this virus. There are infections in every continent, except Antarctica. At the end of February, most of the cases outside of Asia are contained under individual quarantine at the moment. This virus does not spread as easily as the flu, but if still highly contagious and the human population has not seen this particular Corona virus yet, so most people exposed will likely get some symptoms. WHO reports that 82% of cases are mild (like a bad cold) while 15% develop a more serious respiratory illness. Symptoms include fever, severe cough, shortness of breath and sometimes gastrointestinal problems or diarrhea. There are cases of people who have transmitted the infection but they themselves developed no symptoms (asymptomatic). At the moment, Covid-19 is thought to be transmitted by the coughing and sneezing resulting from this respiratory virus. The incubation period (time of exposure to the start of symptoms) is between 10 to 14 days. Part of the current challenge is the lack of enough diagnostic testing kits and the variability in the diagnostic quality of the available kits. The laboratory and clinical tests are still under rapid development.
Click here to read the complete newsletter, including the following:
- Musings from Bishop Marty: COVID-19
- Around the Diocese
- Search Process of Camp Marshall Executive Director
- Benediction
- Finance Corner, by Barb Hagen
- Safeguarding God's People, May 2, 2020, St. Peter's Cathedral, Helena
- New Executive Director Named for Camp Marshall: David Campbell
- Camp Marshall - We're Hiring
- Training Opportunities for Vestry and Audit Teams
- Labor of Love Weekend, April 3-5, at Camp Marshall
- Clergy Conference, April 28-30, at Camp Marshall
- World Interfaith Harmony Week
- Women's Quilt Retreat, April 16-19, at Camp Marshall
- Contemplative Prayer Retreat, May 15-17, Ennis
- Episcopal Relief & Development
- Faith, Science & Climate Action
- The Power of Prayer, by Barb Hagen
- Ecumenical Opportunities
- Earth Day Sunday, April 22
- Presbyterian-Episcopal Dialogue
- 2020 Census
- Episcopal Youth Event
- The Way of Love, Bishop Michael Curry
- A 60-Day Journey Toward Justice in a Culture of Gun Violence
- A Call to Discipleship
- St. James, Bozeman, hiring a part-time Youth Director