SUGA COVID-19 Safety Protocol for In-Person Classes*
SUGA remains committed to the health and safety of all of members. Please find our protocols below, updated March 3, 2022.
Vaccines
All participants and instructors are required to be fully vaccinated, including the appropriate booster shot, to attend class.
Per the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving a second dose, in a two-dose vaccine series, or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine.
Based on CDC guidance, everyone 12 years and older should have a booster shot. All participants are required to provide proof of receiving a booster 6 months after completing their primary Covid-19 vaccination series with Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech or 2 months after completing their primary Covid-19 vaccination series of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen.
Provide proof of vaccination
Physical card or photocopy of it or photo of card on phone.
No one will be allowed to enter or attend classes without proof of vaccination and booster shot.
Individuals who are not yet eligible for a booster shot because the appropriate amount of time has not passed since they completed their primary Covid-19 vaccination series, will be allowed to attend class. This will be noted on the vaccination list and their booster status will be rechecked when they become eligible for the booster
Masks
Based on CDC’s Covid-19 Community Levels tool, masks will not be required beginning with the 2022 spring quarter classes. However, people may choose to mask at any time.
Covid levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new Covid-19 cases in an area.
Community Levels for DeKalb and Fulton Counties are currently low. Therefore masks will be optional while attending in-person classes. This policy may need to be modified if Covid-19 Community Levels rise.
More information regarding masks may be found on CDC’s website.
Contact Tracing
Any person who tests positive after attending classes should notify Bill Beeson so that SUGA can monitor any outbreak in Covid spread. Mr. Beeson will not disclose the person’s identity.
The Covid positive person should consider contacting his or her seatmates, if known.
Postponing In-Person Classes
On an ongoing basis, continue to evaluate the wisdom of continuing with in-person classes based on the spread of Covid in the area.
Members are reminded that we are taking steps to minimize the risk of returning to in-person classes, but that members should choose to participate or not based on their own comfort levels. SUGA is still offering 2 days of Zoom classes for those who do not feel comfortable returning to in-person classes.
Checkers/greeters will be available during the first couple weeks of classes to check vaccination cards. To assist us in checking everyone and getting students to class on time, we encourage students to arrive 15 to 30 minutes prior to class to go through the check-in process. Greeters/checkers will screen participants for both 9:30 am and 11:00 am classes to verify vaccination status.
Please bring your SUGA name badge with you. If you do not have a name badge, one will be provided. After proof of vaccination is reviewed, a colored sticker will be placed on each participant’s name badge. These badges must always be brought and worn each week for all in-person classes.
Proof of vaccination will only need to be provided once per quarter. We will maintain a list of vaccinated participants.
PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS VACCINATION POLICY.
Masks
Masks are required to be worn by all, and must cover your nose and mouth at all times while inside the building.
Instructors may remove their masks while lecturing as long as a six-foot distance is maintained between instructors and participants.
Participants may briefly remove their mask to ask a question of the speaker, while taking a sip of water or beverage or while eating a snack outside the building.
The CDC website has excellent information on choosing a well-fitted mask and properly wearing it. www.cdc.gov
Should you forget to bring your mask, SUGA will have a box of disposable masks on hand at the reception desk.
Rehoboth Classrooms
Classrooms desks and chairs will be sanitized prior to class.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms will be available with limited 4- person occupancy.
Refreshments
No water or refreshments should be served between classes.
Participants may bring water or another beverage. NOTE: Due to our lease agreement with our landlord, all containers MUST have lids at all times.
No snacks should be consumed inside the building.
Social Distancing
We will arrange class seating to maintain as much social distancing as possible.
Hand Sanitizer
Pump bottles of hand sanitizer will be on hand at the reception desk and in the bathrooms.
Symptom Monitoring Do not attend class if you are not feeling well or experiencing any of the following symptoms.
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Contact Tracing
Any person who tests positive after attending classes should notify the SUGA Executive Director at SUGAAtlanta@gmail.com so that SUGA can monitor any outbreak in COVID-19 spread. The person’s identity will not be disclosed during the contact tracing process.
The COVID-19 positive person should consider contacting his or her seatmates, if known.
***REMINDER*** SUGA will be continuously taking steps to minimize the risk to members attending in-person classes, but members should choose to participate or not based on their own comfort levels. SUGA is still offering 3 days of Zoom classes for those who do not feel comfortable returning to in-person.
