July 24th, Beach Day Event Covid-19 Guidelines and Protocols

MAXIMIZING SAFETY AT LIVE EVENTS

SUMMARY: NHF Colorado is utilizing CDC recommendations in conjunction with guidance from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment as well as the Jefferson County Public Health Department to maximize safety for all event participants. Currently, there are virtually zero restrictions on events that can be held in Jefferson County, and Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in Denver with a sold out audience on July 13 is a spotlight on what is permissible in city and state sanctioned events. Nonetheless, we will proceed beyond the minimum to utilize mitigation efforts that enhance health while not materially detracting from participant engagement. We are beginning our first public events with outdoor activities to maximize safety, and our first event will require registration to control event size, utilize generous spacing, and avoid self-serve buffet food. We ask you to review this document for a better understanding of the local health guidelines as well as specific mitigation efforts we are employing on July 24.

SYMPTOMS AND EXPOSURE

According to CDC, people with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever exceeding 100.3 degrees

Additionally, if you are waiting for a COVID test result because you had/have symptoms, or if anyone in your house has tested positive in the last two weeks, do not attend this event.

CDC defines exposure as an individual who has had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) to:

Person with COVID-19 who has symptoms (in the period from 2 days before symptom onset until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation; can be laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness)

Person who has tested positive for COVID-19 (laboratory confirmed) but has not had any symptoms (in the 2 days before the date of specimen collection until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation).

FOR THIS EVENT:

If you have any of the symptoms above within the past 14 days, or if you have been exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID or demonstrated/reported any of the symptoms during this time, we ask that you do NOT attend this event.

INCREASED RISK

According to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, anyone can have severe illness, but some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, including:

• Older adults.
• People of any age with underlying medical conditions.

FOR THIS EVENT

We ask that if you believe you are at increased risk of the effects of COVID 19, that you consult with your medical provider prior to attending this event.

VENUE

According to the CDC, if you do gather with people who don’t live with you, gatherings and activities held outdoors are safer than indoor gatherings. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recommends collecting contact information for guests or attendees through ticket sales, reservations, RSVPs, or having sign-in sheets.

FOR THIS EVENT

Advance registration is required. In order to receive a complimentary admission to the park and join our group, families MUST complete the registration by 12:00 PM on Thursday, July 22. We are utilizing a spacious 2,624-acre gem that provides opportunities to hike, picnic, camp, fish, boat, windsurf, mountain or road bike, hit the swim beach or head to the archery range – all while maintaining substantial distance between non-household members. We are intentionally utilizing the Skunk Hollow shelter: a secluded, wooded field near the park entrance with easy access to creek and riverside trails. It has 6 tables, 2 grills, horseshoe pits, a small paved parking area, running water (no electricity) and accommodates up to 80 people.

MASKS

PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE:

According to the CDC, “in general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings” and moreover “do not wear a mask when doing activities that may get your mask wet, like swimming at the beach or pool. A wet mask can make it difficult to breathe and may not work as well when wet.”

Jefferson County Public Health states “Now that all Coloradans age 12 and older have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, masks are only required in certain places for people who are not fully vaccinated”.  The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) encourages people who are not fully vaccinated to wear masks in all other public indoor spaces to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

FOR THIS EVENT:

In accordance with CDC, state and local guidance, mask wearing is optional for attendees. The Chapter will have an abundance of disposable masks, new packaged cloth masks, and face shields for participants to wear at their discretion. We encourage mask wearing when less than 6 feet of distance can be maintained throughout the event when not involving water activity.

MEALS

According to CDC, Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that handling food or eating is associated with directly spreading COVID-19. However, people sharing utensils and congregating around food service areas can pose a risk. Guidance is to limit food or beverage service in areas in which people are more likely to congregate as that may encourage unmasked interactions.

Additional Public Health Guidance:

• Stagger meal times and prohibit self-serve foods, including buffet and family-style meal service. Arrange outdoor meal service as weather permits.
• Provide guidance and signs to maintain recommended physical distancing, respiratory etiquette, and hygiene. 
• Post relevant information from federal, state, and local health agencies about behaviors that mitigate the spread of disease.
• Discontinue use of tablecloths.
• Establish customer waiting areas, outdoors if possible, that maintain proper physical distancing from other guests.
• Consider refusing service to customers who refuse to follow hygiene, masking, and physical distancing recommendations.

FOR THIS EVENT

All food will be prepared by professional vendors operating food trucks, who are bound by a stricter public health standard than we would be if hosting a traditional barbeque. All meals will be eaten outdoors, and only families from the same household will be permitted to share picnic tables. Ample hand sanitizer will be available at multiple locations. Every participant will receive a food voucher with an associated number to stagger times and limit large clusters of individuals in line at food trucks; groups of 25 total individuals (5-14 families) will be summoned in 15 minute intervals and will maintain distances of 6 feet between all non-family members while waiting in line.

DISTANCING

CDC recommends as much as possible avoid crowds and indoor spaces that do not offer fresh air from the outdoors. Additionally, you are more likely to get or spread COVID-19 when you are in close contact with people who don’t live with you. It is recommended to stay at least 6 feet away from people who do not live with you, and these physical distancing recommendations apply even to all camp activities, including transportation, eating, and recreational activities.

FOR THIS EVENT

Activities will be utilized to separate the main group into smaller, more socially distant groups. Picnic games are intentionally selected like cornhole, water balloon toss and horseshoe that by design have significant distance between competitors, and team members must be from the same household. A teen scavenger hunt will be conducted to create a fun experience in individual space.

CONTACT TRACING

• According to CDC, Contact tracing is key to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and helps protect the community by:
• Letting people know they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should monitor their health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
• Helping people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 get tested.
• Asking people to self-isolate if they have COVID-19 or develop symptoms of COVID-19 or to self-quarantine if they are a close contact.
• Event organizers should collaborate with their local health department to facilitate case investigation and contact tracing for event attendees, as indicated. Learn more about contact tracing and what to expect at CDC’s Contact Tracing website.

FOR THIS EVENT

In the event of a COVID exposure at this event, all participants will be notified immediately with the greatest amount of detail permitted by health disclosure law and testing and quarantine will be advised. We will work with all local health officials to ensure best practice guidelines are followed to assess and minimize the spread of the virus.