Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response at the Weinstein JCC

Update on Athletic Wing Reopening Plans: June 5 at 5:52 pm

In the last few months, we have all had to navigate unprecedented challenges, including the closure of the Weinstein JCC facilities and programs. I have missed seeing our members, staff team and community and today I am excited to share our plans for reopening over the upcoming weeks, beginning June 17 with the Athletic Wing of our Center!
 
We have diligently been preparing for the moment to welcome you back and during Phase 1 of our reopening plan, members will have access to our Fitness Center and Pool by appointment-only, with modified hours of operation.
 
We have always prioritized the safety of the community, and during our gradual reopening, this is as true as ever. As part of this plan we have:

• Developed comprehensive health and safety protocols based on national, state and local guidelines and public health recommendations.
• Convened local experts to serve in an advisory capacity to guide us.
• Updated the Center with signage that outline and direct members to follow these new guidelines.

These new plans and protocols that will be adhered to in the Phase 1 of our Athletic Wing reopening is outlined in this FAQ document. We hope you will take the time to read through it thoroughly to be prepared for what will be required upon your upcoming visits during this phase. Also, later next week we will be sharing a video that will offer a more in-depth tour of the guidelines and protocols that are in place to make your experience as safe and as comfortable as possible.
 
As part of this multi-phase reopening plan, we are also busy preparing for the reopening of our summer childcare program on June 22. Similar to our fitness offerings, this program will look different, but the experience will remain meaningful and will be safely offered to our families needing childcare this summer.
 
Our dedication to caring for the members of our community and helping you safely reconnect to the people and programs you love is our top and most important priority and we will be in close communication as our plans evolve and will update you frequently. 
 
We so appreciate your cooperation and thank you for your patience and ongoing support. I look forward to beginning to welcome you back!

Update on Reopening Plans: May 28 at 5:16 pm

Dear Weinstein JCC Family,

Thank you for your patience on this challenging journey. Despite these times of being apart, I hope that you and your families have made new happy memories together. Over the past two months, the Weinstein JCC professional team has worked diligently to pivot from in-person activities to online connections. We have worked to evolve in meaningful ways, and now we work to transition once again to opening our Center under new guidelines and protocols.

When our Athletic wings is able to reopen (date TBA and per the Governor mandate), the experience will be different than what you were accustomed to. For Phase I, we will have new safety measures and procedures in place to ensure the health and well-being of our membership and staff, such as how to enter the Center, how to schedule Fitness Center visits, and information regarding additional personal requirements. We will provide these details as soon as possible.

We are also working diligently on preparing our Center to reopen on June 22, 2020 for a modified summer childcare program. Again, this experience will be different, but important nonetheless, and we will continue to make our decisions by focusing on the wellness and safety of those participating in our programs. With the guidance provided by local and national health authorities, support of our Board and leadership, and feedback from our membership, we will continue to plan, prepare and soon welcome more familiar faces to our facility in the weeks ahead.

Every decision we make regarding our Phase 1 reopening is seen through the lens of the health and safety of our members and staff and has been developed following all applicable regulations and guidelines. When you are ready to walk through our doors, we want you to feel the highest level of comfort. And we are looking forward to the day when we are open.

We believe it’s important to share this update with our community today and acknowledge that there is still more work to do and answers to gather. While access during phase one will be limited and gradual, the Weinstein JCC is designed to be a hub for our community, and we are looking forward to reinstating our programs, activities, and social opportunities as soon as we are safely able. We again appreciate your patience as we work through this unprecedented time. We have overcome challenging obstacles before, and it is our community that we draw strength from.

Thank for standing with us and supporting us. We could not be more excited to welcome you back!

Orly Lewis
Weinstein JCC CEO

Update on Coronavirus: April 22 at 8:19 pm

While it is not currently possible to be together in person, we have been overjoyed at the response to our Virtual JCC, a place where so many people have been able to connect through fitness classes, live streamed concerts, online learning offerings and fun for kids. As one member shared recently, "The JCC is truly a vibrant community built on caring, and connectivity and wellness. Thank you for this community that continues to nourish us culturally, educationally, physically and spiritually." Please continue to check back here for new opportunities to engage-there is truly something for everyone!

Meanwhile, we keep hoping and planning for when we can see you again. While we have continued to follow the guidelines of authorities to shelter in place, we remain in regular communication about next steps and the impact they will have on our Center reopening and our programs, including summer camp. As of today, our Center will remain closed until at least May 8, and we have already begun developing protocols on the best and safest way to serve you according to local and national guidelines and recommendations. Once our plan is finalized, it will be communicated to you, our membership, prior to opening our facility.  

Our summer day camp plans are also continually being discussed and strategized. Currently we are awaiting two national reports to be released late next week from the Center for Disease Control and the American Camp Association, that will help inform our decisions about what our summer will look like. Our camp staff are planning for a variety of scenarios so that when decisions are made, we can announce our plans to our camp families. As always, the safety of our members and families remain our top priority.

Please know that we are constantly and continually monitoring the situation and will remain in communication whenever we have updates to share. Take care of yourselves and your families and as as always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if we can be of service to you or a loved one. We are in this together, and we will get through this together.

For the latest Center updates, please check our Facebook page.

Update on Coronavirus: March 27, 2020 at 3:23 pm 

Although we do not know the exact time horizon, currently the Weinstein JCC will remain CLOSED until we are directed by the medical and health authorities that it is safe to reopen. We are navigating together the emotional and economic impact social distancing will have on our lives and community; however, it is our collective responsibility to comply with mandates and guidelines to stop the virus from spreading.

In the meantime, our amazing staff continues to work remotely and develop creative and engaging virtual programming, as well as care for our facility, and adapt in ways we could not have foreseen, but which are in line with our mission and values. All of our virtual offerings can be found here on our website and through our Facebook and Instagram pages and groups, as well as email. At a distance, we will use technology to connect to you, even though our wish is to be with you.

For the latest Center updates, please check our Facebook page.

General Information on the Coronavirus
(March 5)

The Weinstein JCC is committed to the safety, health, and well-being of our staff, members and participants. As we monitor news about the spread of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to assure you that the Weinstein JCC staff are committed to staying updated on the situation, listening to recommendations from appropriate authorities, and taking proactive steps to minimize disease transmission. This week we have disseminated communication to our Early Childhood and Kids’ Place families, as well as to all members, with information on strategies we are undertaking to mitigate risk related to the Coronavirus, including these high-level tactics:

• Increasing the availability of hand sanitizers in the building
• Increasing the frequency of wiping down high-touch surface areas and doorknobs by our housekeeping staff
• Wiping down our equipment in the Fitness Center more often
• Reviewing our daily cleaning and sanitation protocol for all program areas, and modifying and enhancing daily procedures where necessary and appropriate
• Continuing to encourage frequent handwashing of everyone including our staff and youth participants

As we continue to work hard in the above-mentioned ways, there are steps that our members, staff and partners can take to promote and maintain a healthy environment here at the Weinstein JCC:

• If you are not feeling well, and exhibit any symptoms of illness, please refrain from coming to the Center until all symptoms have subsided. Alert your supervisor immediately and make arrangements for your absence. The CDC states the period of quarantine for Coronavirus is 14 days from the last date of exposure. A doctor’s note will be required for any staff member who tests positive for Coronavirus before they can return to work.
• If your children are enrolled in any of our youth programs, please do not send your children to the Weinstein JCC if they are sick, and please strictly adhere to our “return to school” guidelines for your children after an illness.
• If you are planning to do any personal travel in the coming months (or during the upcoming spring break season), please take a moment to familiarize yourselves with information about the areas where infection rates are high and the chance for disease transmission is heightened. You can find information on the CDC’s Coronavirus Disease Travel Page.
• If you work out in the Fitness Center, please use the sani-wipes provided to wipe down your equipment before and after each use.
• Please wash your hands frequently, consider carrying hand sanitizer to use if soap and water is not readily available, cover your mouth and nose when sneezing (if a tissue is not readily available, use the upper part of your arm/sleeve), and properly dispose of tissues and paper towels in appropriate trash receptacles.

Please see the following links as reference for more information about the Coronavirus, frequently asked questions, or how to mitigate the transmission of the disease.