Covid-19 Protocols
In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the following rules will be followed to promote social distancing and mitigate the risk of transmission at the live events at the Distance Social:
- Officials and volunteers who are not fully vaccinated should wear appropriate masks/face coverings at all times when they cannot socially distance from others outside their household on the Church and School Property and in the vicinity of the start and finish line.
- Officials, volunteers, participants and spectators should remain 6 feet apart from others outside their household whenever possible.
- Only pre-packaged water and snacks will be made available at the finish and on the course.
- The Distance Social Race Committee will cooperate with the Bernards Township Board of Health if contact tracing is required.
- All Athletes participating in the Distance Social will be reminded of the health screening questionnaire at race bib pickup/pre-race email.
- Walkers and runners will not be permitted to participate if they have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the fourteen days prior to the race, or if they are exhibiting the symptoms of COVID-19.
Recommendation:
Effective May 17, 2021, individuals in New Jersey are not required to wear masks at outdoor events, but the New Jersey Department of Health strongly encourages unvaccinated* individuals to wear masks in outdoor settings when they cannot socially distance. Accordingly, it is recommended that participants and spectators (including children) wear appropriate face coverings when they cannot socially distance from people outside their household, unless they are engaging in vigorous activity or eating/drinking. Participants and spectators are responsible for determining whether, where, and when to wear a face covering, including for their own children. The Race Organizers are not responsible for determining anyone's vaccination status or requiring face coverings of participants and spectators.
*In general, people are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
All runners, walkers, race officials, and other attendees of the Distance Social event will be expected to follow these rules, and all other applicable New Jersey executive orders.
Updated May 19, 2021.
Sources:
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html
- NJ Department of Health “Guidance for Sports Activities” (updated 5/18/2021)
- NJ Executive Order No. 241 5/17/2021 (eliminates Mask Requirement in Outdoor Public Spaces)
- NJ Executive Order No. 239 5/12/2019 (eliminating outdoor gathering limits)
- NJ Executive Order No. 220 2/12/2021 (permitting limited spectators at youth sporting events)
- NJ Executive Order No. 238 5/3/2021 (outdoor athletic practices and competition subject to outdoor gathering limit of 500 persons, but those events are permitted to exceed the gathering limit so long as no individuals are present who are not necessary for the event)
- NJ Executive Order No. 163 7/8/2020
