JCC Rockland JCC Northern NJ

COVID-19 Policy - June 20, 2022 Update

The JCC Board of Directors has voted to amend JCC Rockland’s covid policies so we are aligned with New York State policies, guidelines, and recommendations. Our amended policy goes into effect Monday, June 20, 2022.

A few months ago Gov. Hochul dropped all indoor covid mandates for facilities like the J. During this time, hospitalizations have gone down in Rockland, which is great news. 

Because a sufficient amount of time has passed, we are ready to evolve with the changing times.  

This is our 3rd year dealing with covid and everything a pandemic brings. During these three years, the JCC has never been identified as a source of spread. Our cleaning protocols continue to go above and beyond CDC recommendations, we allow for social distancing, and continue to place hand sanitizing stations throughout the facility.

For these reasons, we are amending our covid policies as follows:

  • Russin Fitness and Wellness Center—No vaccine requirement for Fitness Center members, staff, and guests. Our reservation system for group fitness classes and court times will remain in place, and all areas will continue to be sanitized daily.
  • Chazen Senior Center—All staff, members, and guests are required to be fully vaccinated* in order to participate in all activities, including attending lectures, trips, discussion groups, social events, games, etc.
  • Deborah Koenig Early Childhood Center—All staff is required to be fully vaccinated*
  • JCC Rockland Camps—All camp counselors and those working directly with children are required to be fully vaccinated.*
  • Beyond the Bell After School Program/Vacation Programs—All staff working directly with children are required to be fully vaccinated*
  • Basketball/Sports and Recreation—All staff who work with children must be fully vaccinated.* League and clinic participants are not required to be vaccinated.

*Fully vaccinated means having a booster shot within 6 month of the last vaccination shot.

We are prepared to be nimble and adjust these policies if there is a need. Because we continue to place the highest value on your safety, The JCC’s CEO and COO reserve the right at any time to:
Mandate people to be fully vaccinated at any specific program/event when deemed appropriate
Mandate unvaccinated individuals to wear a mask when inside the facility

If you have any questions, please contact Eliza Millman at elizam@jccrockland.org.

Thank you for your ongoing support and loyalty.

COVID-19 Policy

As we have shared with you since the beginning of the Pandemic, the health and safety of our members, guests, and professional staff is the JCC’s top priority. Consistent with our mission, we remain resolute in this commitment for as long as it takes our community to fully emerge from the pandemic. We are inspired by the Jewish value of pikuach nefesh (saving of a life) and our longstanding tradition that the preservation of human life takes precedence over other practices.

All along, we have believed and followed the science and the ongoing guidance from medical experts and national and local health authorities. For almost 2 years we have continued to adapt and modify programming and health and safety procedures along the way. As the Delta and Omicron variants begin to take hold of our community, our leadership has carefully reviewed additional ways to better support community well-being and enhance mitigation of Covid-19 exposure and potential virus spread. With this in mind, and with the support of the JCC Board of Directors, we announce the following new requirements:

Effective January 17, 2022, JCC staff, members and guests ages 12 and over will need to be vaccinated in order to gain access to any programs or facilities inside the JCC. All current staff must have their first shot by January 17, with their second shot 21-28 days later depending on the vaccine. Currently people are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second shot. Please note this may change eventually to include a booster shot as well.

These vaccination policies will be implemented as open-ended, with any changes or reversals informed by updates relating to infection rates, transmission data, variant developments, and local, state, or federal regulations. We recognize that not everyone will agree with our decision, but it has become increasingly clear that our community’s health is better served when everyone becomes vaccinated and that a large number of unvaccinated people worldwide allows for the pandemic to continue and the virus to mutate. Our commitment to community frames everything we do. This decision is supported by the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association and similar mandates are being implemented in an increasing number of leading employers and service providers nationwide.
We will also be revising other Covid Protocols as the spread continues to increase in Rockland County. Please note the following effective immediately:
  1. Everyone (both vaccinated and unvaccinated) MUST wear a mask when walking into or around the JCC facility. Vaccinated people can take off their masks when they reach their destination, except in our Early Childhood program, where everyone must wear masks at all times.
  2. We will be evaluating our Group Exercise class sizes and may decrease some of the classes to allow for more social distancing. We will also continue to disinfect our fitness equipment with our electrostatic sprayer each evening and fitness members should continue to wipe down any equipment before and after use.
  3. We will continue to follow the Rockland County Department of Health guidelines in relation to quarantine protocols and procedures.
Feel free to contact Eliza Millman, Chief Operating Officer, with any questions at 845-362-4400 ext 136 or elizam@jccrockland.org. We thank you for your continued cooperation as we work together to support each other through this extended public health challenge and do our utmost to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 in our area.

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