Health & Safety
State Convention Health & Safety
The Arc of Virginia is committed to producing and delivering an exceptional in person event, while continuing to prioritize the health and safety of all involved. The Arc continues to actively monitor changing circumstances relating to COVID-19 and updates to the guidelines for health and safety measures from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State of Virginia. Please check this page from time to time for any updates or changes.
Everyone has had to prioritize theirs and others health and safety during these last few years. We recognize the heightened risk of COVID-19 to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and compromised immune systems and therefore want to do all that we can to protect the health and safety of everyone attending this year’s convention.
As a matter of both individual responsibility and ethics, we are asking all participants to use self-screening and self-testing to protect yourself and everyone involved. The following precautions should be observed.
Before Traveling to Convention
The Arc of Virginia strongly recommends vaccinations and boosters for eligible individuals to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
Within 24 hours before traveling to Convention, registrants should take an antigen self-test.
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You should not travel to Convention if you have a positive test result.
Registrants should also engage in self-screening for COVID-19, to rule out any other circumstances indicating that it would be inadvisable to attend.
The CDC offers a Coronavirus Self-Checker that is useful for this purpose.
Registrants should also consult and observe the CDC Guidelines for Travel and should not attend Convention if the guidelines indicate it is not advisable to do so, including but not limited to:
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If you are sick or have any COVID-19 symptoms
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If you tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 10 days
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You’ve had close contact with a person with COVID-19 and are recommended to quarantine
If you are unable to attend Convention due to a positive test result, or the other considerations described above, your registration fee will be eligible for a refund.
After Arrival and While Attending the Event
Honor System: By presenting yourself at the registration counter, you are representing that you have observed the precautions described above. No further documentation is required.
Participants should operate on the assumption that there are other attendees present who are at heightened risk for severe illness and conduct yourselves accordingly. The Arc strongly recommends the indoor use of masks during Convention, social distancing whenever possible, and other precautions to minimize risk to yourself and others.
Attendees will be provided with N-95 masks in their Convention bags, should they wish to use them to protect themselves or others.
Additional information and guidance from the CDC is available here.