[MR] COVID policy update 3/13/22

[Atlantian Seneschal]

*ANNOUNCEMENT: REVISED ATLANTIAN COVID POLICY*

*March 13, 2022*



Since announcing on March 6, 2022 that the Kingdom of Atlantia would not be
renewing the SCA’s COVIDSafe Policy when it expired at the end of March 12,
2022, and that there would be changes to the Kingdom of Atlantia masking
requirements, the Kingdom Seneschal and Crown have read emails and social
media posts expressing concerns and asking for reconsideration. The Crown
and Seneschal have also received the advice of the Great Officers of State
and landed Barons and Baronesses on this issue.

We understand that while many members were pleased by the March 6
announcement, a number were disappointed. We have read and carefully
considered your comments and in response have revised the policy.

*ATLANTIAN COVID POLICY EFFECTIVE MARCH 13, 2022*

*I. MODERN PUBLIC HEALTH LAWS*

The Kingdom of Atlantia and its officers and branches shall comply with all
local, State and Federal laws for the protection of public health,
including but not limited to emergency measures by executive order, and
rules of the event venue. All participants in official activities and
attendees at official events shall similarly comply with local, State and
Federal laws and venue rules for the protection of public health while
participating in official activities and attending official events.

*II.  PROOF OF VACCINATION OR NEGATIVE TEST REQUIREMENT REMOVED*

The SCA Inc.’s COVIDSafe Policy adopted by the Kingdom of Atlantia expires
March 12, 2022. The Kingdom of Atlantia will not renew the COVIDSafe
Policy. Effective March 13, 2022, attendees at official events and
activities of and in the Kingdom of Atlantia are not required and shall not
be asked to provide proof of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 or a negative
test as a prerequisite for attending official events or activities, nor are
they required to present such proof in order to participate in activities
while attending an official event or participating in activities at the
event.  *The SCA health notice shall be posted at every official event and
activity.*

*III.  PREREGISTRATION NOT REQUIRED*

Preregistration for all official events or activities as previously
stipulated in Atlantian Covid policy is no longer mandatory. However,
preregistration is encouraged, and may be required depending on the rules
of the venue and needs of the hosting group.

*IV. MASKING DURING OFFICIAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS*

A.      All attendees at and participants in official events and activities
of and in the Kingdom of Atlantia are free to protect the health of
themselves and their families by maintaining a safe distance from other
attendees, wearing a mask, or by such other measures as seem best to them.
The Kingdom of Atlantia, its branches, officers, and volunteers shall not
require attendees and participants at official events or activities to wear
a mask as a condition of an attendee’s participation and/or attendance,
except as set forth here:

1.      Mask Requirements at Outdoor Official Events and Activities of the
Kingdom of Atlantia

a.      Attendees at and participants in official events and activities
shall not be required to wear masks at such events and activities or parts
thereof that are held and conducted outdoors. This includes, but is not
limited to, participation in outdoor courts, archery, all martial
activities, bardic circles, thrown weapons, shopping with merchants, etc.
subject to specific exceptions set out in Paragraph IV.A.1.b.

b.     Attendees may be required to wear a mask when entering certain
spaces at an official outdoor event or activity as set forth below:

1.     Personal day shade, tent or seating area. Individuals who have
erected a day shade or pavilion or established a seating area for
themselves and their household, shall control who enters or visits and
under what circumstances and may require visitors to mask upon entering the
space. The individual controlling such a space may require that all, some
or none of the visitors to the space don a mask before entering the space.

2.     Pavilions and day shades owned by the Kingdom of Atlantia and its
branches are not private spaces for purposes of this policy.  Attempts to
convert public spaces (e.g., pavilions owned by the Kingdom or branches
thereof) to private spaces by lending or leasing may subject those involved
to sanction.

3.     Check in and consulting tables for official events and activities.
Many SCA activities require volunteer officers to check in attendees, check
waivers, check authorizations, prepare list trees, record participation,
and consult about heraldic submissions. Volunteers engaged in serving
attendees in these circumstances may require participants to wear a mask
during the process.

4.     Armor inspections. In cases where the inspection of armor and gear
per safety rules for a martial activity requires an officer to come within
six feet of a participant in an official activity, the marshal or other
officer may require the participant to wear a mask during the inspection.

5.     Vigil tents. A vigil tent is a private place and visitors who wish
to visit and speak to the candidate shall wear a mask if requested by the
candidate or their designated representative.

6.      Merchant tents. Merchants at official events and activities in the
Kingdom of Atlantia may require shoppers to mask before entering the
merchant’s tent.



2.      Mask Requirements at Indoor Official Events and Activities of the
Kingdom of Atlantia

a.     Attendees at and participants in official events and activities
shall not be required to wear masks at such events and activities or parts
thereof that are held and conducted indoors. This includes but is not
limited to attending and participating in court, order meetings, feasts,
displays of arts and sciences, etc. subject to specific exceptions set out
in Paragraphs IV.A.2.b, IV.B.1, and IV.C.3.

b.     Attendees may be required to wear a mask when entering and remaining
in certain indoor spaces and while participating in certain indoor
activities as set forth below:

1.     Check in and consultation tables. Attendees checking in to indoor
official events and activities may be required to wear a mask during the
process of checking in, signing waivers and receiving site information.
Attendees consulting heralds with regard to submissions may be required to
wear a mask during consultations.

2.     Classes in the arts and sciences. An instructor of a class at an
indoor official activity including but not limited to, University, KASF,
collegia sponsored by the Kingdom or local branches, may require all
students in the classroom to wear a mask for the duration of the class at
the discretion of the individual instructor.

3.     Bardic performance. Where bardic performance is held at an indoor
official event in an enclosed space such as a classroom, the organizer or
sponsor may require that performers and/or audience members wear a mask for
the duration of the performance(s).

4.     Vigil spaces. Visitors to a vigil at an indoor official event may be
required to wear a mask at the discretion of the candidate or their
designated representative.

5.     Marshals conducting armor inspections may require fighters to wear a
mask during the inspection.

B.      Official Business meetings for Baronies, Shires, Cantons, and
Colleges.

1.     The Seneschal of the group may require that all attendees wear masks
at official business meetings held indoors.

2.     The Seneschal of the group shall establish and publish a means by
which officers of the group required to participate in the business meeting
may participate remotely. The method chosen by the Seneschal to allow
remote participation shall be one to which the group’s officers have access
and are comfortable using.

3.     The Seneschal of the group shall establish and publish a means by
which members of the group may attend and participate in the official
business meeting remotely.

C.      Attendance and Participation at Courts at Official Events.
Attendees at Court are encouraged to protect themselves as they see fit by
wearing a mask and/or maintaining social distance. The Crown of Atlantia
has a duty to recognize the achievements and works of the populace and to
that end shall adhere to the following Court policy:

1.     Individuals who are comfortable with having contact with the Crown
will receive their medallion, scroll, and other applicable regalia in the
traditional manner as best suits the Crown.

2.     Individuals who do not wish to come into close contact with the
Crown, may so indicate when they are called into court by (after paying
their respects) remaining standing at a distance of six feet and informing
the Crown that they are uncomfortable with close contact.  In such cases,
the Crown will display the scroll, medallion, and/or other regalia, and
then hand those to a retainer who will place them on a table from which the
recipient may claim them after Court.

3.     Barons and/or Baronesses may require attendees at indoor Baronial
Courts to wear masks in order to enter their courts.

*V. LOCAL ADHERENCE TO KINGDOM POLICY AND MODERN LAW*

All Officers of the Kingdom of Atlantia and its Baronies, Shires, Cantons,
and Colleges shall adhere to the Kingdom policy set forth herein insofar as
it is consistent with modern law, and where there is a conflict, shall
comply with local, State and Federal law and rules of the venue.  Public
health measures may be changed as circumstances dictate and different
restrictions may apply in localities and regions covered by the Kingdom of
Atlantia.

The Atlantian Kingdom Seneschal shall be responsible for implementation and
enforcement of this policy, subject to direction from the Society Seneschal
and the Directors of the SCA, Inc.

*VI.  REVIEW OF POLICY*

This Policy becomes effective March 13, 2022 and shall be reviewed monthly
by the Kingdom Seneschal and Crown thereafter unless more frequent review
is required to respond to changes in circumstances.

Done this 12th day of March 2022.

TRM Eckehard and Jane, Crown of Atlantia
          TRH Cuan and Adelhait

Duchess Simone, Kingdom Seneschal

Baron Jean Claude, Deputy KS