Operation Shower is continuing to host in-person events as we know how much these assist and mean to expectant military families across the country. The health and safety of our guests, volunteers and staff is of utmost importance to us as we work to make sure all those attending Operation Shower events, and everyone helping to host the event, will be safe.
May 11, 2023, marked the end of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration. As of this date, CDC’s authorizations to collect certain types of public health data expired. COVID Data Tracker is no longer reporting aggregate cases and deaths, COVID-19 Community Levels, COVID-19 Community Transmission Levels, or COVID-19 Electronic Laboratory Reporting (CELR) data.
Operation Shower will continue to review hospitalization rates and covid trends to determine if additional safety protocols will be put in place. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html
The safety protocols for each shower on our event calendar may vary based on this CDC guidance at the time of the shower as well as any additional requirements put in place by local government jurisdictions.
If instituted, covid protocols for each shower will be updated and sent to each participant prior to the shower as they are determined. Please check your emails before your shower event to ensure there are no changes to the current shower policies.
We want you to feel confident in your attendance at the Operation Shower event. As your shower date approaches, if you or your guest have questions about attending based upon Covid concerns or would like to discuss, please contact Ginger Shockley at ginger@operationshower.org
Operation Shower is implementing the following Covid-19 event protocols for our staff, volunteers, the new moms, moms-to-be and other guests.
MASKS:
Regardless of the hospital admission level, people may choose to wear a mask at any time and masks will be provided on-site at all Operation Shower events.
According to the CDC, masks are recommended for those at high risk when the hospital admission level is medium and for everyone when the hospital admission level is high.
Operation Shower Staff
Operation Shower staff are required to wear masks on flights and in airports as they travel to the shower event, regardless of the hospital admission level.
Operation Shower staff are required to wear masks on set up day and shower day when the hospital admission level is high and on shower day when the hospital admission level is medium.
When the hospital admission level is low, Operation Shower staff will not be required to wear masks on set up or shower days, unless traveling to the shower on these days.
Volunteers and Guests (not attending with a mom-to-be)
Volunteers at the Operation Shower events are required to wear masks on set up day and shower day when the hospital admission level is high. Masks will be recommended when the hospital admission level is medium.
Guests at the Operation Shower event will be required to wear masks on shower day when the hospital admission level is high. Masks will be recommended when the hospital admission level is medium.
When the hospital admission level is low, volunteers and guests will not be required to wear masks.
Vendors who set-up/deliver on the day prior to the shower must socially distance themselves as much as possible during their set-up, and wear a mask when the hospital admission levels are high. Vendors who set up/deliver on shower day (even if not staying for the shower) must wear a mask if hospital admission levels are high. Masks will be recommended when the hospital admission level is medium. When hospital admission levels are low, vendors will not be required to wear masks.
Moms and Their Guests
When the hospital admission level is high, moms and their guests will be required to wear masks at an indoor event.
When the hospital admission level is medium or low, masks will be recommended (but not required) for moms and their guests.
TESTING:
Operation Shower Staff
Operation Shower staff are required to take a rapid-test on all travel days, set up days and shower days, regardless of the hospital admission level.
Volunteers
Volunteers at the Operation Shower event are required to test on set up day and shower day if the hospital admission levels are medium or high. Operation Shower will provide the rapid testing on-site.
Moms and Their Guests
When the hospital admission level is low, Operation Shower will not require moms and their guests attending the Operation Shower event to test on the day of the shower. However, Operation Shower will provide rapid testing to any moms who request it on shower day.
When the hospital admission level is medium, Operation Shower will encourage military moms and their guests attending the Operation Shower event to test on the day of the shower. Operation Shower will provide rapid testing on-site prior to the shower. Moms and their guests shall let Operation Shower know in advance that they would like to test.
Moms and their guests at the Operation Shower event are required to test when the hospital admission level is high. Operation Shower will provide the rapid testing on-site prior to the shower.
All Other Guests
Guests who attend the shower on behalf of sponsors or the military will comply with their company/organization’s applicable rules, however, Operation Shower recommends these guests test prior to an Operation Shower event when the hospital admission level is medium. These guests will be required to test when the hospital admission level is high. In either case above, Operation Shower will provide the testing, on-site, prior to the shower.
Vendors who will not be staying for the shower are not required to test but must socially distance as much as possible during their set-up, and wear a mask when the hospital admission level is medium or high. (see above masking requirements)
For all persons attending the event, even if testing negative – if a 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 5 days of the event, that person may not attend the event (see Screening below).
** Operation Shower reserves the right to revise these requirements for masks and testing as it deems 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.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
It is important to keep in mind the CDC guidelines for pregnancy. Please review the CDC guidelines:
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:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
Guidelines for Pregnant and Recently Pregnant People:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/pregnant-people.html
SCREENING
- In addition to the above masking and/or testing requirements, each time an employee, volunteer or guest plans to come to an Operation Shower event, they must self-screen for Covid-19 symptoms prior to arriving at the event as follows:
- 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 5 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 leave immediately, and contact their healthcare provider for additional guidance.
- Employees, volunteers or guests must notify an Operation Shower staff member, in writing, as soon as possible, if they or anyone they have brought to the event (employees, volunteers or guests) has tested positive and have been onsite at an Operation Shower event in the preceding 10 days. Operation Shower will then work with the applicable local health department for guidance on the steps to be taken to notify those who attended the event.
- Any employee, volunteer or guest who is recently recovered from Covid-19 is allowed to attend an Operation Shower event, under the following protocols:
- the individual must be 10 days past symptoms on the date of the event; and
- the individual must have a negative rapid antigen test.
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPLIANCE:
Compliance with these Covid-19 health and safety rules is mandatory, and attendance at any Operation Shower event is conditioned on such compliance. If an employee, volunteer, mom or guest violates any of these health and safety rules, such person may be denied entry to or removed from the event.
ASSUMPTION OF RISK:
- An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. We cannot guarantee that you will not be exposed during your attendance at the shower event.
- By attending a shower, you assume all risks, hazards, and dangers arising from or relating in any way to the risk of contracting COVID-19 or any other communicable disease or illness, or a bacteria, virus, or other pathogens capable of causing a communicable disease or illness, whether occurring before, during, or after the shower, however, caused or contracted, and you voluntarily waive all claims and potential claims against Operation Shower, and its subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, contractors, vendors, members, performers, officers, employees, agents, insurers, representatives, volunteers, and the successors and assigns of each of the foregoing entities and persons, arising from or relating in any way to such risks.