FOLEY - Just a few short weeks after fully reopening the Foley Senior Center to near-normal operations, the decision has been made to return to city of Foley Pandemic Plan - Phase One guidelines.

“As you are aware, the COVID cases in our area are continuing to increase,” Pam Harris, director of senior services, wrote in an email to center members on Monday, Aug. 9. “At our most recent City Council meeting, it was decided to put our Pandemic Plan - Phase One back into action for all City facilities. What this means for our Senior Center and how it affects [members] is that masks will be required when social distancing is not an option.”

Under the Phase One portion of the Pandemic Plan, card and board games will continue as long as players wear a mask. During center dances, including Saturday Night Dance, Ballroom Dance Lessons, and Line Dancing, participants will be required to wear a mask. If participants do not comply, dance events will be cancelled until further notice. Exercise classes will continue with a limited number of participants to ensure social distancing. Other activities, including T.O.P.S., Bingo, Crochet & Knitting, and Open Jam, will be social distanced or participants will be required to wear a mask.

Other events, such as the much-anticipated return of Dinner B4 Dark and Potlucks, will be cancelled until further notice. The use of self-serve coffee pots at the center will be discontinued, as will bringing food to share. Members and participants are welcome to bring their own drink and snack. Anyone who is feeling unwell, who is experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, or who has been in recent contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 is encouraged to skip Center events until they are feeling well again.

“The Senior Center’s management and staff strongly feel that it is time to take this level of action to ensure those who visit our Senior Center and also our Senior Center employees remain as healthy and safe as possible,” Harris wrote in the email. “Please know I am as disappointed as you are with these changes and I am truly saddened that we are having to back up when we just started going forward. I pray these safety measures will only be in effect for a short amount of time and once we see the numbers declining, we will feel safer reopening our activities.”

For more information and updates, visit https://cityoffoley.org/senior-center.