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COVID - 19 Guidelines for Girl Scouts

Updated July 27, 2021

It is time to “Push Play on Girl Scouts,” and we have lots of engaging ways for her to participate! We are still paying attention to state, local, and CDC guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic to do our part to keep girls, families, volunteers and staff as safe as possible.

For any council sponsored event or camp, we will send the most up-to-date guidelines in a confirmation email to all those who have registered. Please also see below for the latest information and what it means for you and your troop. 

Currently, based on CDC guidelines released on July 27, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana requires that all girls attending a council sponsored event/program or other Girl Scout multi-troop event (unless eating or drinking) should wear a mask indoors. Girls may go unmasked outdoors if within more than 3 feet of others. Girl Scouts recommends activities outdoors as much as possible.

Girl Scouts of Central Indiana also recommends that girls, parents, and volunteers follow these guidelines for service unit programming as well.

Troops should follow the same guidance that their school district follows.  If the troop has members from more than one school district, use the district that the majority of the troop attends.

Please continue to follow the CDC, state and local requirements for the event or meeting you are participating in. Please note that as Indiana’s guidelines state, some local communities and organizations / companies have more stringent requirements than the overall state guidelines. 

If your girl is engaging in a Girl Scout activity or meeting, we expect that you can verify that you and your Girl Scout:

- Have NO symptoms of COVID-19
- Have NOT been exposed to anyone known to have COVID-19 or anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms within the past 14 days
- Abide by CDC, state and local government recommendations
- Agree to wash and or disinfect your hands regularly

In addition:

·         If anyone is exhibiting symptoms prior to the meeting, they should not attend. For additional information see guidelines regarding return to activities after Covid - 19 illness. 

·         Immediately isolate and seek medical care for any individual who develops symptoms while at the meeting/activity.

·         If an attendee tests positive or exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 after the meeting, the troop leader should notify GSCI. GSCI will take care of notifying all attendees of the event without divulging the identity of the affected person.

·         Reporting and communicating a positive COVID 19 test. In the event of a COVID-19 positive test result, do NOT contact the parents or troop members.  Promptly contact GSCI in this situation. A council staff member and NOT volunteers, will take all appropriate next steps as outlined by local and state guidelines. 

·         Let other volunteers know that council staff, NOT volunteers , will notify parents and others about a positive test result and that the tester’s identity is confidential . Remember that girl and volunteer health information is private and strictly confidential and should be only shared on a need to know basis with a council staff member.

 

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COVID - 19 Important Updates and Frequently Asked Questions

Please remember to check Safety Activity Checkpoints, as well as the safety information below, as you plan your meetings, activities, and events.  We will keep the information current as we receive updates from local authorities through the State of Indiana and GSUSA.

Also check out our Girl Scouts At Home page for additional resources that girls can do with their family or troop, or even on their own.

Girl Scouts is still going strong, so use the information below to stay safe while having fun!

 

Return to Girl Scout Programming after Covid-19 Illness or Diagnosis

Girls and adults who have had Covid-19 symptoms and/or have tested positive for Covid-19 may resume Girl Scout meetings and activities after meeting the requirements below. These guidelines are based on CDC recommendations and many school district guidelines.

If your girl is engaging in a Girl Scout activity or meeting, we expect that you can verify that you and your Girl Scout:

- Have NO symptoms of COVID-19
- Have NOT been exposed to anyone known to have COVID-19 or anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms within the past 14 days
- Agree to wear a mask at all Girl Scout activities and meetings and abide by social distancing
- Agree to wash and or disinfect your hands regularly

We ask that you share Girl Scout Activities and Meetings – COVID-19 Agreement with your troop parents.

Covid-19 Positive, with symptoms
Girls and volunteers/parents who tested positive for Covid-19 and exhibited symptoms may participate or chaperone Girl Scout events and activities (including troop meetings), when ALL THREE of the following statements have been met:
• It has been 10 days or more since individual first had symptoms;
• It has been 3 days or more since the individual had a fever (without medication); and
• It has been 3 days or more since coughing and shortness of breath have improved.

Covid-19 Positive, with NO symptoms (Asymptomatic)
Girls and volunteers/parents who tested positive for Covid-19 and exhibited symptoms may participate or chaperone Girl Scout events and activities (including troop meetings) 10 days from the time the individual tested positive, assuming no symptoms have developed.
If symptoms subsequently developed, follow the guidelines for Covid Positive, with symptoms from the date that the first symptom occurred.

No Covid-19 Test, but exhibit symptoms
Girls and volunteers/parents who exhibited symptoms for Covid-19 (but were not tested) may participate or chaperone Girl Scout events and activities (including troop meetings), when ALL THREE of the following statements have been met:
• It has been 10 days or more since individual first had symptoms;
• It has been 3 days or more since the individual had a fever (without medication); and
• It has been 3 days or more since coughing and shortness of breath have improved.


 

Travel Guidance

Trips.   Domestic Day and Overnight trips are permitted.  Troops must follow all CDC guidelines and the guidelines of any state the troop is entering.

International Travel.  International travel during the time of Covid-19 continues to be risky.  Travelers are at more risk in some countries than others.  Please check the COVID-19 section of the State Department and CDC websites frequently if you are considering a trip out of the country.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html

Transportation. Individual parents are highly encouraged to transport their own girls on the trip. Carpooling and local public transportation (taxi’s, subways, etc.) should be avoided if possible to maintain social distancing.

If carpooling cannot be avoided, ensure that girls and adults who do not share the same household are able to socially distance, wear masks, and leave windows open for ventilation.

Non local transportation (airlines, trains, etc.) is permitted if masks are required, and reasonable accommodations have been created for social distancing. Leaders should investigate transportation choices to make sure they are appropriate for the current stage of the pandemic.

Trip Activity Spaces and Lodging.  In conjunction with Safety Activity Checkpoints, follow the same guidance as Troop Meetings and Hygiene and COVID-19 Risk Mitigation guidance in this document. Call ahead to the facility or vendor to confirm that they are following CDC and state health department guidelines. If activity or sporting equipment is being provided, ask the provider if they wipe down equipment in between uses, similar to equipment at the gym. Make whatever appropriate accommodations that are necessary. For example, bring extra sanitizer if none will be provided for public use at the activity location.

Try to ensure a well-ventilated area for sleeping, such as a ten.or screened cabin if possible, ensuring head to toe sleeping arrangements (to avoid breathing on others while asleep).  If open air lodging isn’t practical, try to find accommodations with operable windows, and ensure head to toe sleeping arrangements.

Group Size.  Girl Scouts of Central Indiana is following the county map found on this page https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/2393.htm to help determine guidelines for meetings and activities. Counties that are colored in red are restricted to gatherings of up to 25 people, while counties that are colored in orange are restricted to gatherings of up to 50 plarge eople.

To enable safety while participating in events/activities in a group, please break up into patrols of 10 or less to control the social distancing for your group. Patrols are a long-standing Girl Scout tradition, and this is the perfect time to use them.

Also adhere to the following protocols:

· 6-foot social distance between individuals must be adhered to, and all participants are strongly encouraged to wear facemasks..

· Bring plenty of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes for the group, and use liberally and often.

· If anyone is exhibiting symptoms prior to the trip they should not attend. For additional information see guidelines regarding return to actitivites after Covid - 19 illness. 

· Attendees must wash their hands when arriving and before leaving. If a handwashing station is not available, hand sanitizer is required.

· Troops should follow the no touch rule. No friendship squeeze, high-fives, handshakes, hugs, or other physical contact. No personal items should be shared.

· No shared water coolers or shared drinking stations.

· Serve only prepackaged food and beverages. 

· Immediately isolate and seek medical care for any individual who develops symptoms while at the meeting/activity.

If an attendee tests positive or exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 after the meeting, the troop leader should notify GSCI. GSCI will take care of notifying all attendees of the event without divulging the identity of the affected person.