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The Æthelmearc Gazette

~ Covering the Kingdom of Æthelmearc of the SCA

The Æthelmearc Gazette

Tag Archives: masks

Æthelmearc’s Mask Variance and Covid Policies

03 Thursday Nov 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Announcements

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covid, masks

You can see the new video on BOD approved variance on masks here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owI7B48vCDA

Transcript:

Hello. I am Illadore de Bedegrayne, Æthelmearc’s Kingdom Seneschal.  I’m here today to discuss AE’s covid policies and the new mask variance, and why we asked for the variance, AND how Æthelmearc is going to help local groups with this variance.

After being asked by several members of the populace, and in discussion with Duke Christopher, our deputy Kingdom Seneschal for Pandemics, I asked the SCA’s Board of Directors for a variance for Æthelmearc to continue its mask requirements (where masks are required inside when transmission is high or substantial in the local county) and it was granted by the BOD.

We asked for this variance because we want to protect our people. The variance is based on the high and substantial transmission rates of Covid-19 across WV, PA, and NY.  Currently, all of Æthelmearc has almost entirely high and substantial transmission, according to the CDC covid transmission map. Also, per the NY Times Covid-19 charts, WV, PA, and NY have had relatively flat rates of Covid-19 transmission and deaths since July. We have not seen a trend downwards like we were hoping – and we expect, due to what happened in Winters 2020 and 2021, we will see a spike in transmission rates across all of Æthelmearc.

One of the main reasons that we are asking everyone to wear masks indoors when transmission is high or substantial is that we want to be inclusive. We want our members and subjects who are most susceptible to Covid – people who are disabled or immunocompromised or over 50 – to be able to attend events. We also want to protect folks from Long Covid. Recently studies from Scotland show that approximately half of the study’s participants who got Long Covid were still suffering over a year later. Other studies have shown that people can get Long Covid from repeat infections.

We want to protect our people. We are a Society based on the core Chivalric values of honor and service and one way you can do honor to others and serve is to wear a mask indoors and help prevent transmission. We also know, per the Wall Street Journal, when both individuals are wearing masks, it greatly reduces the chance of transmission, much more than just one person wearing a mask.

We know that other Kingdoms are not requiring this – all I can say to that is that I remember the Æthelmearc unofficial motto – “it’s just better here.” We care about our people and want everyone to be able to come to events and be as safe as we can make it for everyone.

The Kingdom also wants to help out local groups. Their Majesties came up with the idea that we provide N95 masks (or the like) for those who want or need them. We have created a budget to help reimburse local groups that want to provide them at events. We also are willing to work with groups and help fund safety plans – such as renting tents and heaters for outside feasts or separating small household groups for feasts. Or if groups want to build Corsi-Rosenthal boxes as air purifiers, we’ll work with you on that too.

This decision is not going to be popular with everyone. We know this and we hope this video will help explain our thinking as to why the Kingdom needs this. Just know that we hear you and we will work with you regarding your situation. Just email me at seneschal@aethelmearc.org and we will do our utmost best to come up with ways for you to have events or practices and do them in a safer manner.

Last but not least remember that we had a Vikings in the Snow event once and it was lovely. Put on your wool outfits and go outside to help protect your friends and fellow members.

Thank you all and I hope you stay safe and happy.

————

LINKS – because I believe in receipts:

CDC Transmission Map: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&data-type=Risk

NYTimes Covid Data: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html

WSJ Chart on Masks: https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/a-quick-note-on-masks-and-cdc-guidance (Non-paywall reference)

Scottish Study: (Outcomes among confirmed cases and a matched comparison group in the Long-COVID in Scotland study) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-33415-5

Reuters article on Study: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/long-covid-12-months-persists-18-months-study-shows-2022-10-13/

Article on Repeat Infections and Long Covid – Kaiser Health News – https://khn.org/news/article/long-covid-omicron-reinfections-vaccines/

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Updated Æthelmearc CoVID Rules

06 Wednesday Jul 2022

Posted by Krista in Announcements, Event Announcements & Updates, Kingdom News, Officer Announcements, Pennsic

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Covid Policy, COVIDSafe, masking, masks, Pennsic

  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 5th, 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

 

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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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