1. From our Kingdom Seneschal. Please share to any you know are attending Pennsic:

UPDATE

KINGDOM of AETHELMEARC

COVID POLICY  – FOR PENNSIC WAR

Effective July 5^th, 2022.

Greetings from the Æthelmearc Kingdom Seneschal;

Please read the below Covid policies update for The Kingdom of Æthelmearc, as we’ve made some very important and recent changes that will affect all Pennsic War attendees.

These policies have been discussed and coordinated with Duke Christopher, Æthelmearc’s Deputy Kingdom Seneschal for Pandemics, as well as Their Royal Majesties Æthelmearc, and the Mayor of Pennsic.

MASK WEARING:

Aethelmearc has a two part masking policy.

Part 1 – OUTSIDE: Masks are no longer required – by anyone – outside.  Vaccinated, unvaccinated, kids, grown-ups – no one is required to wear masks outside.

Part 2 – INSIDE:  All unvaccinated individuals, over the age of 2 years, must wear a mask at all times inside. Also – everyone, vaccinated or not, must wear a mask inside, when Covid transmission is high or substantial on the CDC Transmission map (not the community level). Let us repeat – This is the CDC transmission map, not the Community Levels map. If the map has green on it, it is the wrong map.

Definitions for Pennsic War:

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 any of the doors are down, the laundry area, bathhouses, and trailers used by the SCA.

OUTSIDE – All outdoor areas  in the Coopers Lake Event Park area and All Pennsic tents – (except Troll & The Great Hall if all of the doors are open)

PENNSIC UNIVERSITY CLASSES – The Presenter, lecturer or teacher presenting any class in any tented area of the Pennsic University may require attendee of that lecture to wear masks during the class.

THE COOPERS STORE & INTERNET CAFÉ: Are not part of the event and as such does fall under their own policy & rules.

PRIVATE CAMPS:  Can and may set their own rules for mask wearing in their own camps / tent areas.

PARENTS PLEASE NOTE: The upper level of the Cooper shower house 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.

COVIDSAFE:

COVIDSafe – Proof of vaccination or negative test.

We are following the SCA’s COVIDSafe policy. You can read it in full in the comments below, 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 travelled, or your status in the SCA. The local testing centres 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 –

1/ 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.

2/ 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.

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.

SUMMARY:

• 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.
• Masks are required inside at all times by unvaccinated individuals 2 and up, and masks are required inside by *all* if transmission is substantial or high.
• If you get sick or test positive at Pennsic, mask up and return home.

Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you have a wonderful Pennsic War.

Monica Gaudio

Kingdom Seneschal

Æthelmearc

Illadore de Bedegrayne

Pronouns: She/Her

Æ Covid Policy –https://tinyurl.com/AEShortSummary