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