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The Æthelmearc Gazette

~ Covering the Kingdom of Æthelmearc of the SCA

The Æthelmearc Gazette

Tag Archives: Covid-19

COVID Team Update

21 Monday Nov 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Announcements, Officer Announcements

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Covid Policy, Covid-19, map

Good morning!

The COVID Transmission map is looking better!

We have several areas where transmission is listed as Moderate, including places like Misty Highlands (Mon County specifically), Heronter (Chautauqua County), etc. If your event/practice/gathering/meeting are in those areas, masks are not required.

We also have areas where transmission is high or substantial. Masks are required in those areas.

I also wanted to let folks know that Æthelmearc’s Covid Team, which now includes Sir Maghnus an Chnoic na n’Iora (Dr. Joel Welling, PhD) and Duke Christopher Rawlyns (Dr. Chadd Nesbit, MD, PhD), and myself, are still in the process of determining how to improve ventilation with such things like the Corsi-Rosenthal boxes at SCA events/practices that may allow for not requiring masks (AKA a variance to the variance) and we’re making progress. We should have more information out about that soon.

Thank you all so much and enjoy your weekend,

Illadore de Bedegrayne/Monica Gaudio

Kingdom Seneschal, Æthelmearc

Pronouns: She/Her

See the Æ COVID Policy here.

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COVID Policies for Pennsic

06 Monday Jun 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Announcements, Pennsic

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Covid Policy, Covid-19, COVIDSafe, masking, Pennsic

Video of this announcement available here.

Æthelmearc COVID Policies can be found here. 

SCA COVIDSafe Policy can be found here.

CDC COVID Transmission Map here.

Greetings, For those of you who don’t know me, I am Illadore de Bedegrayne and I am the Kingdom Seneschal for Æthelmearc, which is the kingdom where Pennsic occurs.

Because of that, Pennsic falls under Æthelmearc’s COVID policies, so let’s get into them.
We’re going to discuss COVIDSafe, masking, and what to do if you get sick at Pennsic.
First and foremost, we are following the SCA’s COVIDSafe policy.

You can read it in full in the (links above), but the short summary is that everyone five years old and up must either show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or proof of a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of check-in, that has been issued by a medical facility. (It cannot be a regular home test.)

Some important points:

  • This is required.
  • If you do not have either a negative test or proof of vaccination, you will be turned away, regardless of how far you have traveled, or your status in the SCA.
  • The local testing centers may be full. Your entry to Pennsic will likely be delayed hours, if not days.
  • Please come prepared and please let others who do not do social media know as well. Electronic versions of proof of vaccination or a negative test are OK.
Two other quick points:
  • There will be no menacing the COVIDSafe checkers at Troll. Please be kind to these staff members. They are trying to help you get through the line as quickly as possible. Anyone that starts yelling at them, bullying, acting disrespectfully, or being abusive to them will be told to remove themself from the property immediately for the duration of Pennsic War.
  • Please be advised that the SCA COVIDSafe policies are for attendees. The landowners, their staff, and some of the food vendors (who don’t participate in the event) are not covered under this policy or the mask policy. There will be no menacing, yelling, or bullying of them either.
Next: masks.
Æthelmearc has a two part masking policy:
  • Part 1: If you are unvaccinated, you must wear a mask at all times in public areas.This does not include when you are in your private camp – anywhere out in public, you must wear a mask over your mouth and nose. Kids: yes, this includes kids age 2 and above. Again, this is for outside your private camp, and in public areas.
  • Part 2: Any place that is inside, when COVID transmission is high or substantial on the CDC transmission map (not the community level), everyone must wear a mask.
What is inside?
  • Troll, due to its high density and volume is considered inside and masks are required at Troll.
  • The Great Hall/Big Giant Barn is considered inside if the doors are down, the laundry area, bathhouses, and trailers used by the SCA. Of note, the upper level of the Cooper showerhouse next to the Cooper Store will be closed and locked for Pennsic 49. The upper bathrooms will still be accessible from the deck. Please let families with older children and teenagers know that they will not be able to hangout and play games inside the shower house like they have in previous years.
What is outside?
  • All Pennsic tents – save Troll.
  • The Great Hall if all of the doors are open.
  • And of course, outside. 🙂

(The Cooper Store and Internet Cafe is not part of the event and does not fall under this policy.)

Side note: Private camps can set their own rules for masks in their own camps / tent areas.

What to do if you become sick at Pennsic.
  • If you get COVID or test positive for COVID while at Pennsic, you should immediately put on a mask, and return home.
  • If that is not possible (say due to plane tickets), you should isolate in your tent/camp; notify your campmates for their own health and safety, do not participate in any activities such as martial, classes, A&S, court, and the like, and you can return to activities after 5 days of no symptoms and a negative COVID test issued from a licensed medical provider; or 10 days and a negative COVID test issued from a licensed medical provider if you have symptoms. Again, this is ONLY if you cannot return home due to extenuating circumstances.

We know that some of you do not agree with these policies and there is an added burden. We just want you to understand that our main goal here is to keep the greatest number of people at the lowest risk.

To summarize: COVIDSafe policy is in effect at Pennsic, you must show proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID test from a medical facility, taken within 72 hours of arrival, unvaccinated individuals, 2 and up, need to wear a mask in public spaces, masks are required by *all* inside, and if you get sick or test positive at Pennsic, mask up and return home.

Thank you so much and I hope you have a wonderful War.

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Cabin Camping at Blackstone Raid Is Back Due to Covid Rate Reduction

22 Friday Apr 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Event Announcements & Updates, Officer Announcements

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Tags

Blackstone Raids, Covid-19

Good morning!

We got lucky.

After discussions with his Grace, Duke Christopher, Deputy Kingdom Seneschal for Pandemics, and with Roane County, WV going back into Moderate (thank you Universe!!), folks are allowed back in the cabins to sleep inside. Masks are no longer required inside for those who are vaccinated. (Unvaccinated folks are required to wear masks at all times at events.)

Again, all groups who are in the cabins had to submit safety plans to the Autocrat and are still *required* to keep to those plans.

Have a lovely and safe weekend, folks.

Illadore
Kingdom Seneschal

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Blackstone Raid – Camping ONLY, No Cabins Due to Covid

19 Tuesday Apr 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Event Announcements & Updates, Officer Announcements

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Tags

Blackstone Mountain, Blackstone Raids, Covid-19

From the Kingdom Seneschale regarding Blackstone Raid:

Greetings from Illadore,

After discussion with SCA Corporate, it has been decided that *UNLESS* the county makes it back to Moderate or Low transmission (as determined by the CDC Covid County Tracker for Transmission), folks **will not** be allowed to sleep inside in cabins (unless they are single families and already living together.)

Individuals can bring tents and put them up on the property. Please contact the local Autocrat if you need more information. There are also local hotels still available within a half hour of the site as well.

I know this is not ideal. It is our hope that Roane County, WV’s numbers will improve by Thursday.

Thank you,
Illadore de Bedegrayne
Kingdom Seneschal

 

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Update on Contact Tracing and COVIDSafe Attestation Form

14 Monday Mar 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Announcements, Corporate News

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Tags

Covid Policy, Covid-19

Kingdom Seneschal - The Kingdom of EaldormereGreetings!

Contact Tracing No Longer Required AND COVIDSafe Attestation Form Signed by Individuals Now

The Board of Directors has implemented two more changes.

First, contact tracing is no longer required.
https://www.sca.org/news/collection-of-contact-tracing-information-no-longer-required/

Second, the COVIDSafe policy has been updated. Now, individuals
attending the event make the attestation and have to sign it when they
come to the event, not the COVIDSafe checker.

The new form can be found here

Master Illadore
Kingdom Seneschal

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Update from Kingdom Seneschale on Covid Sign-In Forms

14 Thursday Oct 2021

Posted by aethgazette in Announcements, Officer Announcements

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Tags

Covid Policy, Covid-19

Hello Æthelmearc!

I know we’ve had a number of changes lately. We have another one. Corporate has informed me that the previous sign in sheet does not match their requirements. Here’s the updated information:

1. Everyone who physically attends an event/practice/gathering/etc. has to provide their name and contact information. That should go to the local Seneschal and be kept for 60 days. You only need name and contact information.

2. The attestation sheet should be a separate sheet and should go to the Kingdom Seneschal – a picture of that signed sheet should be emailed to aecovid@aethelmearc.org – or send it to the Kingdom Seneschal via regular mail, and that address can be found in the Æstel.

Basically, Corporate et al did not like us combining the two sheets. However, this should streamline the process a bit – Covid Vax/Test Checkers can just visibly look at persons’ ID and proof and wave them through, and then sign the attestation form once Gate/Troll/Practice is over. The Checkers do not have to write anything else down.

I am sorry for the confusion. My deepest apologies and I greatly greatly appreciate your patience.

Illadore

PS. If you need an attestation sheet, the East Kingdom made one – https://seneschal.eastkingdom.org/docs/covwaiv.pdf

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AE Covid Check and Contact Tracing Sheet

12 Tuesday Oct 2021

Posted by aethgazette in Officer Announcements

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Tags

Covid Policy, Covid-19

EDIT: THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED. DO NOT USE THE FORM DISCUSSED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

Master Illadore de Bedegrayne, Kingdom Seneschal, made this announcement:

Greetings!

Dame Ursula of Roen has made a AE Covid Check and Contact Tracing Sheet!

You are not required to use this specific sheet; however, it is handy
and has all the required information. I’ve attached the PDF and here’s
also the Google Link to the document.

Thank you all for your patience while we work through the processes
and procedures.

Illadore
Kingdom Seneschal

Dame Ursula further clarified:

Greetings,

This is meant for non-events or in addition to your event troll sheet. Also, there should be ONE checker per each sheet, meaning, if you sign in more than 25 people as a checker you will be signing off on multiple sheets, or you may be signing a less-than-full sheet if you check less than 25 people in your checking time. It covers both the COVID check-in process and the contact tracing currently necessary for SCA gatherings and is meant to be printed prior to the gathering and filled out manually since electronic signatures are not currently allowed for this process.

Hope it helps!

Yours,
Ursula

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Clarifications on Feasts and Eating Inside in Æthelmearc

15 Wednesday Sep 2021

Posted by aethgazette in Feast, Officer Announcements

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Covid-19

This message is from Master Illadore de Bedegrayne, Kingdom Seneschal.

Greetings Æthelmearc,

I have had several questions about feasts in the past few weeks.

Bottomline – masks are required inside, at all times, by all participants (regardless of vaccination status) at events/practices/gatherings – if you
are in an area of high or substantial transmission. As of today, that is all of Æthelmearc. Not a single county in Æ is moderate or low in Covid transmission.

This means people cannot eat inside, and we cannot have feasts inside. If you are having feast outside (under the stars, in an open tent, under an open shelter), that’s fine – but – be mindful as that means that unvaccinated folks (including all kids under 12) have to eat away from others (or away with their families.)

My discussions with Duke Christopher in the past included how Covid-19 transmission has happened while people were eating – and that was pre-Delta, which is even more contagious than the previous strains. I have deep concerns about unvaccinated folks inside, unmasked, with other unvaccinated folks, for extended periods of time. Being together and eating for extended periods of time is pretty much the definition of a normal SCA feast.

I know, I don’t like it either. I deeply want to eat with my friends. This pandemic is terrible – but would be even worse than not having feast is my beloved Æ folks catching COVID and getting sick, passing it on to others, going to the hospital, or dying.

Please contact me or the Deputy Kingdom Seneschal for Pandemics (pandemic@aethelmearc.org) if you have any questions.

Illadore
Kingdom Seneschal
Æthelmearc

Pronouns: She/Her

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Æthelmearc Returns to Indoor Masking

10 Tuesday Aug 2021

Posted by aethgazette in Announcements, Kingdom News, Officer Announcements

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Tags

Covid-19, masks

Greetings from your Kingdom Seneschal –

Due to the upswing in COVID-19 transmission, and in consultation with our Deputy Kingdom Seneschal for Pandemics, and Their Royal Majesties, we are now requiring all participants at SCA Æthelmearc events, practices, and gatherings, in counties with High and Substantial levels of transmission of COVID-19, to wear CDC recommended masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.

This follows CDC guidelines. You can find the CDC’s county-level transmission map here: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view

As you can see, unfortunately, much of AEthelmearc falls in this category as of Sunday, August 8th.

As a reminder – if someone is not fully vaccinated or is unvaccinated, they must wear a CDC recommended mask over their mouth and nose at all times at SCA events, practices, and gatherings (save when one is eating and drinking off by themselves.) This guidance also covers children above the age of 2 and who are not vaccinated.

To be clear, at this time, vaccinated folks do not have to be masked outdoors.

I know this is not what we wanted – I like many were hoping we’d have this pandemic behind us soon. Until that time, please take care and be safe and please get vaccinated if you can.

Thank you so much,
Always,
Illadore de Bedegrayne
Kingdom Seneschal
AEthelmearc

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Seneschal Announces Mask Requirement for Children and Unvaccinated Adults

29 Tuesday Jun 2021

Posted by aethgazette in Officer Announcements

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Tags

Children, Covid-19, masks

Hello! This is to help clarify the July 1st re-opening rules that were sent out June 2nd, specifically about kids.

Æthelmearc is requiring everyone who is not fully vaccinated (so 2 weeks past the final dose) to wear a mask, as we are following CDC guidelines.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html

This includes children ages 2-11 years old.

We are going to enforce this (with everyone, not just kids) with kindness and empathy. Everyone should be kindly reminded to wear their masks if they are not vaccinated. Nobody other than a child’s parent should be yelling at their kids without masks. Parents should be reminded, gently, and with tolerance and understanding. Kids are going to kid – some of them are absolute Houdinis and ninjas and we need to be mindful as much as we can.

We are doing this because we are concerned for children’s safety as there are some very contagious variants out there that are affecting children.

If you would like to discuss this in more detail, please contact myself at seneschal@aethelmearc.org and Duke Christopher/Dr. Chadd Nesbit at pandemic@aethelmearc.org

Always,
Illadore de Bedegrayne
Kingdom Seneschal
Æthelmearc

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