COVID-19 Policy
The safety of our contest attendees is of paramount concern. To this end, we ask teachers for their help. If circumstances dictate, additional COVID-19 restrictions may be imposed. We will inform you as soon as we learn of any changes.
We encourage all participants to mask, unless medically inadvisable. You may wish to bring a few extra masks for students who wish to wear them but forgot to bring them. Evidence of the efficacy of masking was recently published (Cower, T. L. et al. Lifting Universal Masking in Schools—Covid-19 Incidence among Students and Staff The New England Journal of Medicine 2022 (Nov. 8) DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa2211029). The research found that in the 15 weeks after mandatory state-wide masking was rescinded, schools that stopped masking experienced an additional 44.9 cases per 1000 students and staff over schools where masking was required.
We encourage all participants to have been tested (especially if they have COVID symptoms) or vaccinated. Teachers may decide the degree they wish to voluntarily enforce testing and vaccination requirements.
We feel that it is important to have contact information. Please keep a list of all the students you bring for thirty days. If one of your contestants develops COVID symptoms within thirty days, please contact George Dombi immediately at gdombi@uri.edu. Should this happen, all of the teachers will be contacted by email and asked to alert the students they brought of their possible exposure so they can take appropriate precautions.