Protocol

Effective February 25th, 2021

 

Please read the following COVID-19 Safety Protocol approved by Central District Health before attending the show.

Please follow all local health advisory - GSCC is not responsible for individual actions.

 

SAFETY MEASURES: 

 

I. Compliance with the local public health order

 

I.I. Staying Home when Appropriate Policy

• All parties involved  - staff, volunteers, special guests, vendors - are advised to stay home if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or are showing COVID-19 symptoms.

• All parties involved are advised to stay home and monitor their health if they have had a close contact with a person who has symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 14 days.

• Staying Home when Appropriate Policy will be communicated in advance to all staff, vendors, attendees and special guests on the event website, in email blast and social media posts, and also at the entrance prior to entering the building via signage.

• Vendors and attendees who chose to stay home will be issued credit to use at the next event.

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I.II. Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette 

• Staff, volunteers, vendors and special guests are required to wash hands frequently (e.g., before, during, and after taking tickets; after touching garbage) with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and increase monitoring to ensure adherence.

• If soap and water are not readily available, staff, volunteers and vendors can use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol and rub their hands until dry.

• Staff, volunteers, vendors and special guests must cover the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing. Used tissues should be thrown in the trash and hands washed immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Attendees must wash hands often and/or use hand sanitizer and cover coughs and sneezes. Enforced by a mask and safety compliance officer and signs at visible locations. Hands sanitizer stations will be available throughout the venue. 

 

I.III. Masks  

• Per Central Health advisory for Ada County, masks are strongly recommended in the Expo Hall at all times for all staff members, volunteers, vendors, special guests and attendees (excluding babies or children younger than 2 years).  

• All parties involved will be provided information on the mask advisory ahead of time on the event website, social media posts and email blast, and by signage at highly visible places throughout the venue during the event, including by the entrance to the building. 

• Staff, volunteers and special guests will be provided a mask by the event if they don't bring their own. 

 

I.IV. Adequate Supplies  

• Sinks in the building will be accessible during the event for everyone involved. Bathrooms will be stocked on supplies including soap, water, a way to dry hands (e.g., paper towels, hand dryer), and the supply will be monitored and re-stocked throughout the day. 

• Hand sanitizer stations will be placed at various areas of the show floor.

 

II. For employees, volunteers, special guests 

 

• Symptoms checked (checklist or verbal) during check in. 

• Masks are strongly recommended to be worn at all times (unless exempt).

• Masks and hand sanitizers will be available for staff, volunteers and special guests.

• Staff and volunteers are assigned tasks that allow these individuals to maintain a 6-foot distance from other staff members or attendees. 

• All staff members, volunteers and special guests are required to comply with physical distancing and hygiene guidelines. 

 

III. Social Distancing

 

A 6-foot distance must be maintained between household groups at all times including while seated, limiting the number of people in a confined area to enable adequate distancing at all times. 

 

• Limit of one person per a 6ft artist table at the same time.

• Not more than 2 people per 10x10 vendor booth at the same time.

• Not more than 200 attendees allowed in the building at any one time (with total capacity of 1,100 people) to allow for social distancing.

• Using separate doors for entrance and exit (creating one-way routes) and discouraging crowded waiting areas.

• Providing physical guides, such as tape on floors or sidewalks and signs on walls, to ensure that individuals remain at least 6 feet apart in lines and at other times.

• Physical barriers, such as sneeze guards, in areas where it is difficult for individuals to remain at least 6 feet apart (e.g., check in area).

• Adjusting seating layout or availability of seating in the panel room so that people can remain at least 6 feet apart.

• Moving certain activities (e.g. lightsaber fight demos) outdoors where social distancing can be maintained as much as possible.

 

IV. Attendees at Increased Risk for contracting COVID-19

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• High-risk attendees are encouraged to attend during special hours between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM with general admission starting at 11:00 AM.

• Queues for high-risk attendees will be separate from the general attendance ones and will be correspondingly marked. 

 

V. Signage and Messages

 

• Signs that explain stay at home when appropriate policy, promote everyday protective measures and describe how to stop the spread of germs by properly washing hands and properly wearing a mask will be posted in highly visible locations through the venue. 

• Regular announcements on reducing the spread of COVID-19 will be broadcasted regularly on public address systems throughout the day.

• Messages about behaviors that prevent spread of COVID-19 will be posted when communicating with staff, vendors, and attendees (such as on the event website and through event social media accounts).

 

VI. Payment Options

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• Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance. In case of advance tickets, a touchless check-in process (scanning ticket barcode) will be implemented. 

• For at the door purchases, attendees are encouraged to select credit/debit payments instead of cash transactions. 

• All payment processing equipment will be disinfected after each transaction. 

• Staff members and volunteers performing ticket purchase transactions and attendees check in will be regularly washing hands and using hand sanitizer.  

 

VII. Hygiene and Sanitization

 

VII.I Cleaning and Disinfection 

• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces within the venue between uses as much as possible (e.g., door handles, sink handles, hand railings, check-in areas)

• Cleaning and disinfecting shared objects between uses (e.g., payment terminals, tables, countertops).

• Maintaining a schedule for increased, routine cleaning and disinfection. Cleaning and disinfection will be performed both by the Expo Idaho staff and the event staff. 

• Vendors must have hand sanitizer available at their booths at all time and perform wiping down frequently touched areas/items and sanitized shared objects after each transaction.

• Cleaners and disinfectants will be stored in a properly ventilated area away from children.

• Use of disposable gloves when removing garbage bags or handling and disposing of trash.

 

VII.II. Restrooms

• Limiting the number of people who occupy the restroom at one time to allow for social distancing. Corresponding signs promoting social distancing, wearing masks and hygiene guidelines will be posted in visible areas in all restrooms. 

• Ensuring that open restrooms are operational with functional toilets.

• Restrooms are to be cleaned and disinfected regularly, particularly high-touch surfaces such as faucets, toilets, stall doors, doorknobs, countertops, diaper changing tables, and light switches.

• Restrooms are to be stocked with enough supplies for handwashing, including soap and water, and a way to dry hands (e.g., paper towels, hand dryer).

 

VII.III. Ventilation

• Ensuring ventilation systems operate properly.

• Increasing circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening doors. 

 

VIII. Concessions

• Any concessions/restaurant seating is compliant with guidance for food services: Eliminating indoor seating area and encouraging attendees to use the outdoor area for food consumption. 

• Encouraging contactless payment. Using touchless payment options as much as possible.

• Eliminating any self-serve food or drink options, such as buffets, salad bars, and drink stations and replacing them with individual pre-packaged items. 

• Maintaining 6-foot distancing for all lines.

• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces such as pens, counters, or hard surfaces between use.

• Providing physical guides, such as tape on floors or sidewalks and signs on walls, to ensure that individuals remain at least 6 feet apart when waiting in line to order or pick up.

 

IX. Additional Safeguards

• Discouraging people from sharing items that are difficult to clean, sanitize, or disinfect.

• Discouraging people from exchanging handshakes, hugs, and other physical contacts.

• Limiting any sharing of food, tools, equipment, or supplies by staff members and volunteers.

• Communicating the COVID-19 Safety Protocol to everyone involved before and during the event. 

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Read the Ada County Public Health Advisory here

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