ASSUMPTION OF RISK, RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT RELATING TO COVID-19 EXPOSURE, COVID-19 LIABILITY, AND COVID-19 RISKS:
Policy: The safety of all who attend Iowa Youth Tour is of paramount importance to our staff, members, and the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC) Board. We are looking forward to being with those of you who attend the Tour in 2022.
The Iowa Youth Tour has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, the Iowa Youth Tour cannot guarantee that you or your child(ren) will not become infected with COVID-19. Attending the Iowa Youth Tour could increase your risk and your child(ren)'s risk of contracting COVID-19.
We all assume some risk related to exposure to COVID and any other communicable diseases where people are present. The Iowa Youth Tour and our host facilities will meet all local and state requirements. Items in this document are being put into place to mitigate those risks to the best of our abilities. It remains that some of the items in this document are subject to change as we get closer to the summer. We will continue to update our procedures in cooperation with our host facilities and local authorities as needed.
Goal: No COVID infections within our group
Expectation: If we have an infection, have a plan we can implement immediately
Our pledge:
We will … follow current local and CDC rules as well as any additional National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (the national association that partners with states to host Youth Tour), hotel and venue mandates
We will … require all participants to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 viral test (regardless of vaccination status) taken 72 hours or less before departure. IAEC will provide parents/guardians with a rapid test to administer to their student.
We will … require all chaperones to be fully vaccinated. This is not a political statement or concern; we just need to take all precautions available to us to stay fully staffed during Youth Tour.
We will … encourage, but not require, all students to be vaccinated.
We will … take daily temps
We will … provide hand sanitizer and disposable masks daily
We will … communicate any positive COVID cases with parents, students, NRECA, IAEC and the local cooperative (while staying HIPAA compliant) Note: vaccination status will be asked for in the health forms to collect information pertinent to percentages necessitating mask mandates, etc.
We will … seek medical treatment when appropriate
Before the trip:
Communicate the expectations with cooperatives, parents, students. Examples:
- If the student is not feeling well, they should not attend.
- We will be following current local and CDC rules (likely wearing masks while in buildings, on buses, or in other areas where social distancing isn’t possible or practical)
- If the student has seasonal or other histamine-producing allergies, make sure that they are taking their allergy medicine prior to leaving for DC, and while on the trip, to avoid any allergy symptoms that may be construed as COVID symptoms.
Will work with NRECA to try and get a few chaperones booked in double-double rooms (in the event we must have them share a room, so we have quarantine room/rooms available). There is no guarantee that we can do this, since (understandingly) most of the double-double rooms will be assigned to students.
Have rapid tests available
Have at least 4 thermometers available (assign chaperones to take temps each day)
If someone is NOT feeling well:
Provide them with a rapid test and a N95 mask.
If it is negative, have them consult with a medical professional and follow any health instructions
The Iowa Youth Tour Director will call:
If positive, quarantine immediately
The Iowa Youth Tour Director will call:
- Parents/guardian
- IAEC EVP and Communications Director
- Local cooperative
- NRECA
Test roommate and those in their immediate social/travel group, and anyone else our Youth Tour staff deems should be tested. If any test positive, follow positive protocol.
If the student has mild symptoms, we will make arrangements to transport them back to Iowa. Options:
- A parent can fly out and drive them back (rental car)
- An IAEC staff member can fly out and drive them back (rental car)
- A chaperone can drive them back (rental car)
- 2-day trip – halfway is at about the state line between Ohio and Indiana
IAEC will work with the local cooperative about footing the bill for the transportation
If the student’s symptoms are more severe, make arrangements for them to stay at the hotel until they are able to travel. A chaperone will be assigned as a caregiver.
As long as the students who test positive aren’t too sick, they can hang out in the same rooms together and we can keep them entertained with certain activities.
Checking in at least daily with parents/guardians.
IAEC will work with the local cooperative about footing the bill for the transportation
Idea/Option: Midwest states split the cost on a “follow” van in the event that we need to bring someone back, we would have a dedicated driver and vehicle.
After the trip:
Any student who tests positive within 7 days of returning from the trip should report this to the Iowa Youth Tour Director who will in-turn report it to anyone in the student's immediate social/travel group and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.