We (Rob & Emma) take the health and safety of our community very seriously, and we are grateful that so many swing dancers have expressed their willingness to do whatever it takes to look after one another. We have agonised over our covid policies for two long years. Here we are again trying to get the balance right for everyone to be as safe as reasonably possible and still have an awesomely fun time. We cannot tell you how much we appreciate your support in making these tough decisions.
We acknowledge that partnered dancing presents a higher risk of transmitting infectious diseases than most other activities. You will all be in VERY close contact for multiple days and nights together. So you must also accept that you are willingly entering an elevated-risk situation.
We also acknowledge that many people view such elevated risks as acceptable when weighed against the considerable mental health benefits that swing dancing and events like this provide.
It may be argued that the world is in a better position to cope with the virus than before, with vaccinations and better treatments now available. However, we still cannot in good conscience host a restriction-free event.
Although most attendees will have already had covid once, there is ample evidence that people can get it again, and with each new infection, the virus is provided with another opportunity to mutate. Therefore, our duty of care is not only to the participants of BBW but also to the rest of humanity.
The BBW COVID-19 rules (as of the 26th of June) are as follows:
- At a minimum, we will be complying with whatever mandated health directives are in place at the time of the event. In addition:
- The Brisbane Balboa Weekend 2022 is a vaccinated event. It is a condition of entry that all who attend, in any capacity, are required to show proof of vaccination or official exemption when first arriving (and at any time after that upon request). You should all be familiar with using your State check-in app to display your status by now – contact us if you have any questions.
- We ask that all participants conduct a Rapid Antigen Test during the 24 hours before your initial arrival at the event and fill out a short online wellbeing check (a link to the form will be provided).
- If you have cold or flu symptoms, do not attend the event (either workshops or socials). We know that you will feel devastated if you unexpectedly get sick right before or during the event and have to miss out, but at least you will be taking one for your comrades. To soften the blow, we will refund you for the portion of the event you have missed in this unfortunate circumstance.
- We will be doing temperature checks at times through the weekend. We know this method of detection has various limitations, so we will have RATs on hand for anyone presenting with a high temperature.
- While mask-wearing is not currently mandatory, a P2 (N95) mask is still considered to be one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and those around you. We will support and encourage participants to wear a mask at any time during the event.
- Bring your own water bottle with your name on it.
- While surface contact has only proven to be a rare vector of transmission for COVID-19, good hand hygiene is always a particularly good idea for partnered dancing. Please wash your hands with soap regularly. Sanitiser will be available but should be considered secondary to clean hands!
- If you develop any cold or flu symptoms in the days immediately after the event, we ask that you please do Rapid Antigen Testing and advise us of the results so we can try to gauge how successful our policy has been.
- We reserve the right to alter this policy at any time, as we all know a lot can change in a short amount of time!
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.