TEC COVID-19 Response

Arch of DBQ TEC COVID-19 Response
2021-2022

In order to ensure the safety and well-being of the participants and team members, the following procedures will be in place for all TEC retreats in the 2021-2022 school year. The following procedures are subject to change as the risk of COVID-19 changes. At every TEC the local policies of the host sites will take priority over anything listed below.

Hygiene:

• Facial tissues, a waste basket, and hand sanitizer will be present at all tables.
• Tables will be sanitized each evening.
• Craft materials (markers, scissors, etc.) will remain at each table and will not be shared with other tables.

• Table assignments will be maintained throughout the weekend. There will be very limited mixing between participants from different tables. When gathering for prayer and meals, groups will sit with their table.
• Tables will be placed with at least ten feet between each table.
• Sleeping arrangements will allow for at least six feet between each person. Sleeping areas should be well ventilated with doors open for airflow, yet ensuring privacy is available.
• Bathroom occupancy will be limited based on the size and layout of the restroom.
• Meals will be served to participants (i.e. not buffet style) to reduce contact with utensils.
• Hugs and other forms of physical contact are not to be encouraged.
• Speakers/musicians who are not staying all weekend should keep their distance from the rest of the team and participants.
• Sacraments will occur with as much social distancing as appropriate under the guidance of the Spiritual Director.

• Team will be required to wear masks during table discussions, and at all other times when there are within six feet of others.
• Participants will be expected to wear masks throughout the weekend, but especially during table discussions.
• Masks will be made available for those who did not bring one.
• The weekend schedule will allow for “Mask breaks” throughout the day when participants can go outside or to an open space, stay at least six feet apart, and remove their masks.

• There will be an assigned break time for participants to use the restroom and wash their hands before all snacks and meals.
• Team will include time in their schedule to thoroughly sanitize the meeting and sleeping spaces at least once each day.
• There will be time added on the first day to explain the COVID response plan to all team and participants.
• The Saturday/Sunday night rallies will be suspended during the 2020-2021 school year to reduce the number of people in contact with retreat participants and team.
• Team sizes will be reduced to only one adult per table, and a smaller team overall.
• Team members may give more than one reflection.
• In order to keep the total number of people present to a minimum, some sites may opt to have outside speakers present some of the reflections.
• Singing should be kept to a minimum, and vocalist must be at least 15 feet away from anyone else or must be wearing a mask.
• A team member or volunteer should be greeting families and ushering them to where they need to be upon arrival (both to start the weekend and to end the weekend) to avoid from families congregating.

• All team and participants will have a medical screening upon arrival. If they are showing symptoms of COVID, they will be asked to go home. Parents dropping off their sons/daughters are asked to stay until the screening has occurred. Screening may include:
  • Temperature check (anything 100.3 degrees or higher is considered too high)
  • Asking about other symptoms as listed by the CDC
  • Asking about contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID
  • Asking about any prescription medications they are taking. (Rx meds are collected and made available as needed per policy.) (this is standard practice and not a part of COVID-19 screening)
• Participants who report symptoms and, thereby, do not take part in the TEC weekend will be given a full refund or will be permitted to transfer their registration to a future TEC weekend more than two weeks in the future.

• If COVID is prevalent in the area in which the TEC is to occur. Two metrics we will consider for this are:

• If the host site is in the “RED Zone”, meaning the 7-day total of new cases is greater than 100 per 100K of the local county population.
• If the host site is unable to host due to Department of Education guidance or local policy.

We will communicate via email to the parent/guardian listed first on the registration and the retreat participant. If we cancel TEC for any reason, participants will be given the option of a full refund or having their registration transferred to an upcoming weekend.
Last minute cancelations will occur by phone call. This plan is subject to change at any time depending on the current status of COVID-19 transmission rates where the TEC is held.