Operation Shower is hosting in-person events again as we know how much these assist and mean to military families across the country. The moms’ safety and comfort is of utmost importance to us and we work to take every precaution to make sure the new moms and moms-to-be attending our events, and everyone helping to host the event, will be safe.
We are therefore implementing the following requirements for our staff, volunteers, and most-critically the moms-to-be.
Operation Shower’s guidelines/rules for each shower are based on 3 things:
- the current Covid-19 Community Level (Low, Medium or High) for the shower location https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/community-levels.html
- the space in which we are holding the event (outdoor, high ventilation, or indoor)
- the vaccination numbers of moms attending (non-vaccinated moms are at greater risk of illness and complications)
- the greater risk of severe illness to pregnant women
Testing
Moms and Their Guests
Operation Shower will require that Military Moms, and their guests (age 2 and over) attending the Operation Shower event, present proof of a negative COVID-19 test on the day of the shower. Operation Shower will provide rapid testing on-site the morning of the shower. Testing is required for all levels of CDC Community Spread – High, Medium or Low.
Operation Shower Staff
Operation Shower staff will self rapid-test on travel day, set up day and shower day.
Volunteers
Volunteers at the Operation Shower event will test on set up day and shower day. Operation Shower will provide the rapid testing on-site. Testing is required for all levels of CDC Community Spread – High, Medium or Low.
All Other Guests
Guests who attend the shower on behalf of sponsors or the military will utilize their company/organization’s rules, but Operation Shower recommends testing prior to an Operation Shower event. Operation Shower will provide the testing on-site if requested.
Vendors that will not be staying for the shower are not required to test but must wear a mask and socially distance as possible during their set-up.
For all persons attending the event, even if testing negative – if the person is currently exhibiting symptoms of possible Covid-19 (as defined by current CDC guidance), or has been around anyone who has tested positive within 10 days of the event, they may not attend the event.(see Screening,below)
Masks
Moms and Their Guests
In areas of the country with MEDIUM or LOW community spread at the time of the shower, as outlined by the CDC guidelines, masks will be recommended for Military Moms and their guests (but not required) when not eating and drinking at an indoor event.
In areas of the country with HIGH community spread at the time of the shower as outlined by the CDC guidelines above, due to the nature of an event with pregnant, unvaccinated (in some cases) moms-to-be, masks will be required when not eating and drinking at an indoor event.
Operation Shower Staff
Operation Shower staff are required to wear masks on flights/travel to the shower and for set up day and shower day when it is not possible to socially distance.
Volunteers and All Other Shower Guests
Volunteers and other guests at the Operation Shower event will be required to wear masks on set up day and shower day when there is HIGH Community Spread in the shower’s county according to the CDC guidelines.
When community spread is MEDIUM OR LOW, volunteers and other guests will be recommended to wear masks when not in direct contact with the moms or babies. Masks will be required when volunteers or guests are in direct contact with the moms or babies.
** Operation Shower reserves the right to revise these requirements for masks and testing as appropriate. The above guidelines are subject to change if circumstances change or if we determine more precautions should be taken due to the moms’ situations or requests.
** It is important to keep in mind the CDC guidelines for pregnancy as we work to keep our moms-to-be as safe as possible:
Pregnancy is considered a high risk condition for Covid-19:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
“Pregnant and recently pregnant people (for at least 42 days following end of pregnancy) are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people.” – CDC
These guidelines are also instructive as we determine the needs for an event with pregnant moms:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/communication/COVID-19_Pregnancy.pdf
Screening
In addition to the above masking, vaccination and/or testing, each time an employee, volunteer or guest plans to come to an Operation Shower event, they must do the following prior to arriving at the event:
- Screening: Operation Shower will ask that all employees, volunteers and guests participating in any Operation Shower event self-screen for symptoms prior to the event
- Check their temperature
- Consider whether they have any of the following symptoms:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle aches
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
- Consider if they have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 10 days.
- If any employee, volunteer or guest has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or above, has any of the above symptoms, or has been in close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 10 days, they may not attend an Operation Shower event.
- If any employee, volunteer or guest develops any symptoms of a respiratory illness while at the Operation Shower event, they must immediately leave, and contact their healthcare provider for additional guidance.
- Employees, volunteers or guests must notify an Operation Shower staff member in writing right away if they or anyone they have brought to the event (employees, volunteers or guests) feel sick and have been onsite at an Operation Shower event in the preceding 10 days. We will then work with the local health department to see what steps need to be taken to notify those who attended the event.
- Any employee, volunteer or guest who is vaccinated and recently recovered from Covid-19 is allowed to attend, under the following protocols:
- The individual must be 10 days past symptoms on the date of the event
- The individual must have a negative rapid antigen test