Aerospace Valley Regional
FIRST Robotics Competition
COVID-19 Health and Safety Policy
COVID Guidelines frequently change
Please watch emails and website for updated versions
***Revised March 22, 2023***
Overview
Event staff and attendees participating in this event should recognize that any gathering poses an increased risk of COVID-19 exposure and spread. FIRST® believes that the best path toward ending the COVID-19 pandemic — and having a successful season — is through vaccination. We strongly recommend everyone who is eligible and has access to a vaccine consult with their physician and get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.
More information about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines can be found at The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization websites.
Aerospace Valley Regional has developed the following COVID-19 Health and Safety Policy to reduce the risk of coronavirus exposure and spread at this event. Safety recommendations are taken from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health school-based protocols (subject to change.)
Pre-Event
Stay Home if you:
· Have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days.
· Are waiting for COVID-19 test results.
· Are feeling unwell and/or have any of the following COVID-19 symptoms. o 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
· Have had close contact (within 6 feet for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with a person who has tested positive for or who has symptoms of COVID-19 within the last 14 days, or is waiting for test results, unless you have been fully vaccinated.
Event Entry Requirements
No Proof of Vaccination or Negative COVID-19 Test Required for 2023
Prior to the event, all event staff/volunteers, coaches, and team members should register with FIRST, complete a “FIRST Consent and Release Form,” and coaches should bring the “Team Roster” to the event. All team members (youth and adults) must be listed on the “Team Roster.” During the registration process they will provide their name, phone number, email, and parent or guardian name, phone number, and email if the team member is a minor. Contact information will be accessible to event organizers via the “Team Roster.”
Event attendees will NOT be required to complete a consent form and provide contact information prior to entering the event.
Health Check
No screening required for 2023
Contact Tracing
If we hear of a COVID-19 or other disease exposure we will inform the teams.
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.
Limiting Attendance
At this time, we are not intending to limit team member attendance, or limitations on spectators. We will update attendance limiting as we get closer to the event, based off current conditions and local/state regulations.
Behavior Requirements
Face masks are optional for all event staff and attendees
Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
Hand hygiene should be practiced and encouraged by all event staff and attendees.
· All event staff and attendees should wash their hands frequently (for example, before, during, and after check-in, touching garbage, using the restroom) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
· Event staff and attendees should use hand sanitizer, available at hand sanitizing stations throughout the event, including before and after game play or practice field use or any other time that soap and water are not readily available.
· All event staff and attendees should refrain from singing or shouting, especially indoors. Please use alternate ways to celebrate like clapping, dancing, finger-snapping, etc.
Physical (Social) Distancing
Physical distancing is not required at this event but below are some guideline should you decide to practice.
· Keep 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household or not part of your cohort (members of the same home team) whenever possible.
· Follow all signage and marker direction, such as those that are freestanding or on the ground, to indicate the appropriate direction of pedestrian movement or to maintain a safe physical distance from others.
· Do not greet others with physical contact (for example, handshakes or hugs) or celebrate with high-fives or fist bumps.
FIRST recognizes a single team as a cohort, which is not subject to the same 6-foot physical distancing requirement. However, this exception only applies to members of the same team. In all other cases, the physical distancing requirements outlined in this policy remain in effect.
Signs and Messages
Comply with all health and safety signs that are displayed in waiting areas, near restrooms, in seating areas, and used to control traffic patterns and entrance and exit points.
Follow event staff instructions related to safety.
Policy Changes and Non-Compliance
These guidelines may change with little notice up to and including event cancellation based on updates from the CDC, California Department of Public Health, and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health guidelines. If this event must be cancelled, you will be notified by an official FIRST email and the event may be rescheduled in accordance with FIRST guidelines.
The information contained in this document is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text and links, are provided for general informational purposes.
Any person entering this event is required to abide by health and safety policy and the FIRST Code of Conduct. Non-compliance may result in removal from this event and being barred from future participation in FIRST activities.
