The Orthodox Church in America’s Archbishop of the South — Alexander, my ordinary — has ordered all the faithfulto stay home from liturgy. From his letter:

Beloved, along with diocesan administration, I have been closely monitoring the developing status of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past 48 hours it has become clear that if we do not slow the rate of infection through social distancing (i.e., self-imposed isolation) our healthcare system is likely to be overwhelmed by the number of cases. As we can see from the situation in Italy, this will result in a significantly greater number of deaths, due to lack of treatment, or rather the inability to effectively treat so great a number of those infected. Further, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests COVID-19 is an airborne contagion that cannot be contained simply by the reasonable hygienic measures with which we are all familiar (handwashing, disinfecting of surfaces, and the like).

In light of this, I am asking all parishes and missions in the Diocese of the South, in addition to the
directives from the Statement of the Holy Synod, to respond in the following manner:

• All parish and mission events and activities, including coffee fellowship, church school, and the rest,
and all services other than the Sunday Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, the Vesperal Liturgy of the Great
Feast of Annunciation, and the Presanctified Liturgies, are cancelled through March 29, beginning from
today. At which point we will adjust this as the situation warrants.

• Everyone in the parish or mission, other than the priest (and deacon), a reader, a server, and no more
than two (2) chanters or singers (all of whom are physically strong and at low risk for COVID-19), should
remain at home, even at the time of the Divine Liturgy. The holy body and precious blood of our Lord can
never be a source of disease, it is after all for the healing of soul and body, but the COVID-19 virus can still be passed through the congregation. Out of love for our neighbor, we must do everything we can to protect the vulnerable by slowing the rate of infection not only in our parishes, but in the greater
community, and thereby allowing the hospitals and medical community to more adequately care for those
most at risk. All who are “at risk” – the elderly, those with pre-existing conditions, any who are actively sick or exhibiting signs of illness – should absolutely absent themselves from the services.

He continues:

This is not the season of Great Lent we anticipated, but it is nonetheless a fitting Lenten effort: focus on the greater good of our neighbors, recognizing that this initial response to this pandemic will work for the greater good of our faithful and our neighbors. Use this time of “social distancing” for prayer and to keep vigil “in one’s cell.”

I’m genuinely grateful to Archbishop Alexander for making this call. It cannot have been easy. I was thinking about church coming up on Sunday, knowing I was going to go, feeling guilty about my anxiety, wondering if that was a sign of little faith, and so forth. He has lifted a great burden from us all.

Speaking of burdens — and duties — a reader in New Orleans writes:

I wonder what my obligations are re: coronavirus and community. What is the risk that hunkering down, avoiding restaurants and coffeeshops, will result in the failure of those businesses and the unemployment of the people who are serve me? What if we eat ramen for a few months and emerge to find Costco and Applebee’s have survived, but Zara’s Li’l Giant Supermarket and Ancora Pizzeria are out of business?

My risk of dying of COVID-19 is probably about 1%. TBH, that’s probably comparable to my chance of dying in the next year or two from a heart ailment, cancer, accident, etc.

I don’t want to contribute to an outbreak, and I don’t want to give it to my parents. I’m aware of those risks. If I have a hint of symptoms, I’m staying home for a few weeks. If I’ve been exposed to someone who’s sick, I’ll do the same for 5 or 10 days – whatever the recommendation becomes.

At some point, decisions cost lives. We know a 55 mph speed limit will save x lives compared to 70 mph, but 70 mph provides broad benefits to the economy and the people who don’t die.

And as we shut down the global economy, does anyone have concern that there are whole countries that are the global equivalent of a small business? How many people will die in the developing world as people and countries that have finally edged their way out of extreme poverty find themselves slipping back in?

Last night we walked to a nearby fried-chicken restaurant. As it happens, we ate there the night Hurricane Barry (aka Hurricane Barely) was supposed to hit, when the city was more or less shut down. Last night we saw the waitress who waited on us the night of the hurricane, and she remembered us. It looks like she’s a manager there now. What happens to her if people stop going out?

UPDATE: Now this is a good idea:

Nice idea out there to help local shops /restaurants/services suffering from decreased business due to virus. Go in, ask if you can buy a gift certificate for future use. They get the money when they need it, you will use it down the road. #inthistogether

— Peggy Noonan (@Peggynoonannyc) March 13, 2020