Covid Policy for IGA Events

We have created this policy to be in line with the HSE current guidelines on preventing Covid spread, this policy may change in advance of the con if the public health situation changes.

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/preventing-the-spread/protect-yourself-and-others.

Vaccinations

Vaccines save lives. We ask that all those attending Gaelcon in person be up to date with their vaccinations, especially for Covid-19. We acknowledge that these vaccines are not medically suitable for everyone, so it is all the more important that those of us who can be vaccinated make sure we are. Find out if you can have your winter vaccinations for both Covid and Flu before Gaelcon by asking your doctor or pharmacist. Free vaccinations are also available here https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/get-the-vaccine/booking/

Testing

We ask attendees to have a negative Antigen test result within the 24 hours immediately prior to arriving at the convention.  We will not ask for proof of a negative test – we will trust attendees to do this, as it is part of how we keep each other safe. However, we ask attendees to be responsible and not to attend in person if they have any cold or flu symptoms. 

Gaelcon asks anyone who has or develops cold/flu or Covid-19 symptoms during the convention to self-isolate as far as possible and stay away from public convention areas for the sake of other attendees and venue staff and guests.

Masks

In light of recent covid figures, face masks must be worn at all times over the nose and mouth, except when actively eating and drinking in the bar and restaurant areas or outside the building. The con will have a large number of people in close contact for extended periods of time, such as while playing games, and this will heighten the risk of infection. We recognise that not everyone is able to wear a mask, but would require that if you can, you do. 

This is especially important when you’re with people who might not be able to wear a mask, or need to take them off at times, for example when someone is running a game in a loud room they may need to unmask to be heard, or just to talk over the extended time period required to run a game. 

Masks are about protecting you and others around you, even wearing them some of the time is helpful. 

Attendees who have a legitimate exemption from mask-wearing (for example, children under the age of 11; people who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability; or people for whom putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause severe distress) can get a sticker from the Front Desk. Wearing this will help convention volunteers and prevent unnecessary challenges.

Gaelcon volunteers and committee will gently remind anyone seen not wearing a mask, or not wearing it correctly, to do so. They will be aware of the sticker which indicates a person is exempt.  Harassment of anyone who reminds people to comply with this policy will be treated as a Code of Conduct matter.

Breaching the code of conduct and/or the Covid 19 Policy can result in being asked to leave the convention and being barred from attending future IGA Events. 

Contact Tracing

Convention attendees are encouraged to download and use the HSE track and trace app: https://covidtracker.ie/.

Post Convention Reporting

If you test positive within 14 days of attending Gaelcon 2022, we would ask that you contact us via director@Gaelcon.com, and if you can let us know what games or other events you took part in. We will make an anonymous report to our attendees, so they can assess their risk and take tests. 

Data Protection

For privacy and GDPR reasons, Gaelcon will not keep records of any convention member’s vaccination status, medical exemption from vaccination, or medical exemption from mask-wearing.  Gaelcon will not ask for the reasons for medical exemption from vaccination or mask-wearing.

TL;DR

Get vaccinated

Have a negative antigen test within 24 hours before arriving at the convention

Wear a mask

If you have or develop symptoms, please attend online

Let us know if you test positive during or after Gaelcon