2022 Rally Guidance

VERSION 6

As the vaccines participation is increasing and new variants continue, the Tin Can Tourists guidance is recommending continuing the rally format changes developed in 2020 and slightly modified for 2021.

Make sure you are aware of and follow your state and local health department guidance. You can find your state’s health department website here: https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/healthdirectories/healthdepartments.html

Covid is primarily spread by aerosols in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces. The risks of outdoor events are very low. Even the risks of having people tour trailers during an open house are easily mitigated – open windows, request that people hand sanitize often. Rally hosts should encourage participants to choose whether to allow others to tour inside their trailer with a simple indicator like a Open/Closed sign in the window – so anyone can opt out if they’re uncomfortable.
There are times during rallies that the risks would increase – if multiple people are utilizing shared bathroom space – showers & flushing toilets are aerosol generating. Indoor pot lucks are probably best avoided. These risks can be mitigated – perhaps a shower sign up sheet would eliminate crowding? Outdoor picnic where everybody brings their own meal is a compromise we’ve seen work well. There are lots of creative work-arounds if people just keep in mind a few basic things – if you’re having a longer conversation with someone even just taking a step back to increase your distance reduces your risk exponentially. Remember, the benefits of all the laughter & fun from a rally are immeasurable!

PROTECTING OUR TCT MEMBERS

To protect our members, the TCT is taking the following measures: 

• Consider cancelling the open houses at events until the situation improves to reduce the risk of spreading the virus
• Asking members to self-identify, if they have traveled to or are travelling from a high-impact area
• Reinforcing health and good hygiene practices such as wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and frequent hand washing
• Err on the side of caution when making all decisions

WHAT WE’RE DOING TO KEEP YOU SAFE 

Our rally hosts are recommended to take the following precautions to ensure our collective health and well-being

Rally Host Precautions

• Consider hosting smaller gatherings than in the past
• Keep all activities outside
• Remind invited guests to stay home if they have been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 14 days or are showing COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone who has had close contact with a person who has COVID-19 should also stay home and monitor their health. Invited guests who live with those at higher risk should also consider the potential risk to their loved ones.
• Consider keeping a list of guests who attended for potential future contact tracing needs
• Recommend the wearing of appropriate face coverings at all areas where people may congregate
• Reduce the amount of activities that would require people to congregate
• There is no evidence that food or food packaging play a significant role in spreading the virus, but avoid sharing items such as serving utensils, multi-serving beverage containers, and condiment bottles with people outside your household.
• Rally hosts should consider providing tools that the CDC recommends: soap for washing hands frequently, face masks to wear in public spaces and tailoring their event activities to promote social distancing.

JOIN US IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS 

Personal Camper Precautions:

• Do not attend if you feel sick. 80% of cases are very mild but still infectious.
• Wear a face mask when outside of your camper and being in a public space with others
• Avoid crowds, don’t cluster under an awning or around the coffee in the morning. Crowds increase you risk of infection.
• Check with the organizer or event venue for updated information about any COVID-19 safety guidelines and if they have steps in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
• Bring supplies to help you and others stay healthy—for example, masks (bring extra), hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, and drinking water.
• Continue good hand hygiene practices after touching surfaces such as doors and handles, including those within bathroom and showers rooms, as well as water fountains or spigots, laundry facilities, ice machines, trash and recycling cans and bins, payment stations, vending machines, and other camping amenities.
• If you must sneeze or cough, please use the crook of your elbow or your sleeve and not your hands. This is in case you are the source of exposure. This is to stop you from sneezing into your hands and touching things.
• The virus can be active 6’ from a sneezing/coughing person. Back away if you are near someone when they sneeze or cough.
• Please reduce bodily contact at the rally and where ever you go at this time- refrain from hugging old friends or shaking hands with new ones.
• If your trailer has a bathroom, use it. Public bathrooms have multiple sources of contamination: the toilet seat lid, toilet paper holder, faucet handles, and the doorknob. If you use the public bathroom, touch surfaces with a paper towel – not your hands. This is true anywhere you go at this time, even places like McDonalds or restrooms at Home Depot. Porta-Potties are the worst (can’t wash hands) so avoid if possible.
• Make your trailer a safe haven- and do not invite others in except to poke their heads in and look around. Disinfect your door frame and handle frequently. During this time you might also reduce visitors at your house…same principle.

Visit the CDC website for more information on the virus and how to protect yourself

CDC’s guidance for hosting gatherings and cookouts: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/personal-social-activities.html#gatherings