Operation Shower’s Respiratory Virus Protocol as of September, 2024
Operation Shower hosts in-person events for 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.
As the threat from COVID-19 becomes more similar to that of other common respiratory viruses, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its Respiratory Virus Guidance, rather than additional virus-specific guidance. Per the CDC, this brings a unified approach to addressing the risk from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, such as influenza and RSV, that have similar routes of transmission and symptoms and similar prevention strategies.
Operation Shower strongly encourages all attendees at its events to review the CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guidance which can be found here. This guidance provides practical recommendations and information to help people lower the risk from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, flu and RSV. In addition, Special Considerations for Pregnant People can be found here, and Young Children here.
Operation Shower Staff:
All Operation Shower staff are required to take a rapid-test (for COVID-19) on all travel days, set up days and shower days, and to wear masks on flights and in airports as they travel to shower events.
Employees must notify the Chief Shower Officer, as soon as possible, if they or anyone they have brought to the event have tested positive for COVID-19, RSV or the flu, and they have been onsite at an Operation Shower event in the preceding 3 days. Operation Shower will then notify the showered moms and volunteers who attended the event of such a positive test.
All Shower Attendees, including Operation Shower Staff:
All employees, volunteers and guests are strongly encouraged to stay up to date with immunizations as suggested by the CDC here.
Each time an employee, volunteer or guest plans to come to an Operation Shower event, they must self-screen for common flu, COVID-19 and RSV symptoms prior to arriving at the event, including the following symptoms:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle or body aches
- Sore throat
- Decrease in appetite
- Headaches
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Wheezing
- If any employee, volunteer or guest has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or above, and has any of the above symptoms, 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.
- Any employee, volunteer or guest who has recently recovered from COVID-19, RSV or the flu may attend an Operation Shower event when the individual no longer has symptoms, and has tested negative for such virus.
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPLIANCE:
Compliance with these Respiratory Virus health and safety rules is mandatory, and attendance at any Operation Shower event is conditioned on such compliance. If an employee, volunteer, 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 Respiratory Viruses 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 a Respiratory Virus 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.
** Operation Shower reserves the right to revise this Protocol 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.