COVID-19 Policy
Introduction
The WAC continues to adapt to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Our policies are designed to mitigate the risk to all individuals participating in our in-person programs. These policies were crafted using King County, Washington State, and CDC guidelines. We expect all members, participants, volunteers, leaders, and visitors of our in-person programs or facilities to adhere to these policies. These policies will continue to be refined as federal, state, and local guidance changes.
Requirements for all in-person WAC activities
- Everyone 5 and older must be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, meaning everyone must have received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s), when eligible.
- Verification of vaccination status will be the responsibility of the in-person activity leaders (class co-chairs, cabin hosts, or outing leaders), who may require participants to show proof of vaccination and may keep track of this information.
- Masking requirements are determined by activity leaders. Participants must comply with any masking requirements that are implemented by activity leaders, including class co-chairs, Guye Cabin chair, and event or outing leaders.
- Prior to participation: members must honestly self-assess and withdraw from any in-person WAC activity (and get tested) if they think they may have COVID-19 (e.g., due to COVID-19 symptoms or recent close contact with someone who tested positive). The WAC will work with participants to accommodate missed activities.
- After participation: If a member believes they may have been contagious during a recent WAC activity and possibly exposed others to COVID-19, they must report the potential exposure to the WAC (e.g., if you test positive, develop COVID-19 symptoms or find out you were in close contact with someone who tested positive). The WAC will offer to inform all potential close contacts and will not share any names without permission. To this end, attendance for all in-person WAC activities will be tracked by activity leaders, including cabin hosts.
- If you test positive for COVID-19: the WAC adheres to CDC guidance on isolation (and ending isolation).
- If you are exposed to COVID-19: the WAC adheres to CDC guidance on quarantine (following guidance for people who are up-to-date on vaccinations).
- Compliance with this policy is a condition of participation in any in-person WAC activity.
Guye Cabin and other indoor WAC activities
- All participants must comply with the vaccination requirement outlined above.
- Indoor masking requirements are determined by activity leaders (i.e., Guye Cabin chair, class co-chairs, and event or outing leaders).
Outdoor WAC activities
- All participants must comply with the vaccination requirement outlined above.
- The WAC discourages sharing food, cooking equipment, drinking vessels, and other high-contact gear with individuals from different households
- The WAC discourages the sharing of tents and carpooling by participants who do not share a household. Members who carpool should consider masking.
Reporting potential exposures
If a member believes they may have been contagious during a recent WAC activity and possibly exposed others to COVID-19, they must complete the WAC COVID-19 Potential Exposure Reporting Form (e.g., if you test positive, develop COVID-19 symptoms or find out you were in close contact with someone who tested positive).
Questions or feedback?
Please email covid@washingtonalpineclub.com with any questions or feedback.These policies will continue to be refined as federal, state, and local guidance changes. We recognize that these policies do not cover every situation, and in most cases situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis with the WAC COVID response team, class co-chairs, cabin hosts, and any concerned members.