Category: Archived

Good evening to the Populace of the East Kingdom,

March brings renewal and anticipation of warmer weather and outdoor gatherings. Their Majesties, Their Highnesses, and the Office of the Kingdom Seneschal note with relief that COVID rates continue to trend favorably downward.

Yet, we must proceed with great care for our youngest Tygers and those of the Kingdom who are immunocompromised or otherwise cannot be vaccinated.

Accordingly, we feel that it is appropriate at this time to lift the Kingdom’s mask requirement for outdoor gatherings only, as of today, March 1st, including martial activities. We remind everyone to continue safety practices such as social distancing, frequent handwashing, etc.

Please note: folks gathering in a public tent / pop-up / pavilion with 3 or 4 walls up must continue to wear masks. The air flow with 3 or 4 walls up is insufficient to be safely unmasked. Masks may be lowered briefly while actively eating or drinking.

Of course, many will wish to continue to wear masks, and we respect that choice. Everyone must take the steps necessary for their own sense of safety at our activities.

The mask requirement remains in place for all indoor gatherings of any size/activity, for everyone over the age of 2.

The Kingdom continues to follow the COVIDSafe policy, which requires that all attendees of in-person gatherings who are eligible to be vaccinated either show evidence of full vaccination or show negative test results of a medically-supervised COVID test taken within 72 hours of the in-person gathering. Attendees 18 years old and up must also show either a government-issued photo ID or their current SCA membership card; the name on the identification must match the name on the vaccination card/negative test results.

As always, if state/provincial/local ordinances are more restrictive than these directives, we must follow those government ordinances. We will review this directive at the beginning of April.

Reminders: there are currently no restrictions on the size of gatherings, food may be served (but think through how to do so with the least amount of contact), and pre-registration is not required for an in-person gathering, but if there’s no pre-reg, the person in charge of the gathering needs to get contact tracing information (legal name and either a phone number or email address).

Continue to take good care of yourselves, Tyger populace. We’ll see you in person soon.

In service to the Kingdom,

Medhbh inghean Ui Cheallaigh, Kingdom Seneschal
Audrye Beneyt, Kingdom Seneschal-Elect

Ioannes II and Honig II, Emperor and Empress
Ryouko’jin and Indrakshi, Heirs to the Tyger Throne

Good evening to the Tyger Populace, 

Please see the announcement linked below for the request for Letters of Intent for entrants to the Spring Crown Tournament to be held in Nicolet, Quebec on May 7, 2022. 
https://www.eastkingdom.org/ek_announcement/march-12th-2022-spring-crown-2022/

If you have any questions, please contact me at seneschal-elect@eastkingdom.org
In Service, 
Magistra Audrye Beneyt
Incoming Kingdom Seneschal

Good afternoon, everyone,

The Board of Directors has issued a few important updates to the COVIDSafe policy; they are now in effect. Please take note. Along with this COVIDSafe update, the East Kingdom’s requirement that masks must be worn indoors at all times (except when actively eating/drinking) and are optional for outdoor gatherings remains in place.

Please make sure that everyone holding in-person events is aware of this update.

Thank you,
In service,
Medhbh

1A. Event staff no longer need to collect contact tracing information.

1B. The following updated language MUST appear with information about EVERY in-person gathering of any size. Event listings on the EK Calendar, event websites, Facebook event listings, email lists, and so on all need to display this updated language. It must also appear as a physical sign at the in-person gathering itself (and in multiple places if the in-person gathering is a large weekend event).

“Although the SCA complies with all applicable laws to ensure the health and safety of our event participants, we cannot eliminate the risk of exposure to infectious diseases during in-person events. By participating in the in-person events of the SCA, you acknowledge and accept the potential risks. You agree to take any additional steps to protect your own health and safety and those under your control as you believe to be necessary.”
 
Society announcement lifting the requirement for contact tracing and updating the language required for all event announcements, flyers, signage, etc.

2. COVID status check-in process. All attendees who are eligible to be vaccinated still need to show either proof of full vaccination or a medically-supervised negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of the in-person gathering. Event staff will continue to check this documentation. Attendees over the age of 18 also still need to show gov’t-issued photo ID or SCA blue cards with the same name as the vaccination card/negative test results.

Here’s what’s new: as part of the check-in process for attending an in-person gathering, the ATTENDEE will sign a form attesting to the following. 

By signing below, you are confirming that you have presented proper identification, along with either proof of being fully vaccinated or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours prior to the start of the event. (If you presented proof of a negative COVID test it complies with the current SCA COVIDSafe rules).

This replaces the previous requirement that event staff attest that they have checked everyone. Treat this attestation form like a waiver and send it to the Waiver Deputy on your usual schedule. 

SCA updated COVID policy

Good evening, East Kingdom Populace,

Their Majesties, Their Highnesses, and the Office of the Kingdom Seneschal are relieved to note the continued decline of the Omicron variant across the Kingdom.

As such, we feel it is time to permit a full re-opening of the Kingdom at this time. All safety measures must remain in place, both as required by the Society COVIDSafe policy and the East Kingdom’s masking policy.

Of note, the updated Society COVIDSafe policy states everyone 5 years old and over must present proof of vaccination or negative COVID test in the US when attending all SCA gatherings. This update will include Canada effective March 1, 2022.

The East Kingdom requires that all attendees ages 2+ at all in-person gatherings wear properly-fitting masks that comply with CDC/PHS guidelines about effective masks. Masks must be worn at all times, including while fighting indoors. They may be lowered briefly while actively eating and drinking.

For more information about the East Kingdom’s COVID policies, please review the Gate in a Box: COVID Edition resource on the Seneschal’s page: https://seneschal.eastkingdom.org/gate-in-a-box-covid-edition/

As always, we urge the East’s populace to take good care of yourselves: practice social distancing, wear good masks correctly at all times when in public, and stay home when feeling ill or if someone you’ve recently been in close contact with becomes ill.

We look forward to seeing everyone soon.

In service to the Kingdom,

Medhbh inghean Ui Cheallaigh, Kingdom Seneschal
Audrye Beneyt, Kingdom Seneschal-Elect

Ioannes II and Honig II, Emperor and Empress
Ryouko’jin and Indrakshi, Heirs to the Tyger Throne