Happy new year! Like every new year, 2022 comes with changes. I wish I could say that after the last couple of years the changes were more positive, but the pandemic is not done with us yet.
I understand how frustrating all these changes are for everyone. Just as it seems like we are getting a grip on the new way things are done, it changes once again. I am thankful for every one of you for being so patient and doing your best. I do ask that you all be wary of complacency, especially with this new variant of covid. It really doesn’t seem to take much to pass it along. Be mindful of yourself and those around you.
In service,
Xristina
As of January 1st, 2022 the following changes are being made to the Ealdormere Covid safety plan/policies. I recognize that some of these points are not new, I’m just reiterating those ones and putting them in one place. Reminder: an event is defined as per corpora and applies to any official SCA activity.
1. In-person events are continuing but this will be subject to change at any time and there may be more safety procedures required by either us or by the venues we are renting. Please double-check with your venue to see what changes need to be followed.
2. Pre-registration, contact tracing and proof of vaccination are still required to attend any event.
3. Contact tracing forms and proof of vaccination declaration forms must be sent to the Kingdom Seneschal before your next event or within 14 days (which is shorter).
4. Masking is always required indoors and outdoors where/when social distancing is not maintained.
5. All gatherings at private residences are restricted to a maximum of 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors, provided that social distancing can be maintained.
6. There will be no singing at events and no use of instruments that a person needs to blow into.
7. We are still subject to the attendance capacities of the venues we are renting. These limits have changed to 50% currently. They may change further. Anyone who is renting a space, I advise that you check in with the venue and get yourself and your group up to speed on any new requirements.
8. NEW: There will be no food/drink at events. Each individual will be responsible for their own food and you must go outside/to your vehicle to eat/drink. There is a plan in place for martial combatants that is posted later in this list. This change was already on my radar but the new rules from the province have further required it.
9. There is a new mandate from the BoD that states that a SCA membership card can be used for ID when showing proof of vaccination. This does not work in Ontario where legislation states that it must be government issued ID.
Specific to martial activities:
1. There has been no change yet to the mask exemption when engaging in sport. An individual may choose to wear a mask under their helm or fencing mask when engaging in armoured combat or fencing but they are not required to.
2. Hats off, mask on. Specifically, when engaging in martial activities indoors; as soon as your helm or fencing mask comes off, your mask must go on. Outdoors, your mask must be put on if you are less than 2m from anyone not of your physical household.
3. NEW: there will be a transition zone set up between the active list field and the observer/social space that is preferred to be 3m in width but can be no less than 2m.
a. This transition zone must be passable by marshals and it must be obviously marked.
b. This is not a space to socialize or store armour, weapons or other items. Exception: a personal water bottle of the active combatant may be left for easy access post combat. It must be taken with the combatant as they leave the transition zone.
c. The only people in this space will be masked marshals and combatants transitioning from the list field to the observer space.
d. This is the space where combatants coming off the list field may pause before putting on their mask and hydrate. Each combatant must maintain 2m from other individuals.
e. A combatant can not spend time in the transition zone, except to hydrate.
f. It is recommended that each combatant bring a water bottle with a straw that can easily be used either under a mask or under a helm.