COVID-19 Information

Returning to In-Person Troop Meetings and Activities

Interim COVID-19 Guidance for Volunteers

Edition date:  6/16/2020

This guidance is being provided as of the Edition Date above. Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama may modify this guidance, from time to time as circumstances change.

COVID-19 is an extremely contagious virus that spreads easily in the community. Take all reasonable precautions to limit potential exposure for girls, volunteers, and families.

Guidance for in-person meetings:

Troop Meeting Space. Outdoor spaces where social distancing can be maintained are strongly recommended for meetings.

Troop Meetings in the home are not currently permitted. Additional guidance on meeting in the home will be provided at a later date.

Troop Meeting Size & General Guidance.  You should consider your troop size when selecting a meeting space. Social distancing of at least 6 feet is required. When safe social distancing is not possible, such as during instruction, masks must be worn by adults and children 10 years and older, per state guidelines. All safety activity checklist guidelines must still be met.

If you have a large troop, stay connected while you wait for a safe time for everyone to gather. Large troops are wonderful, so stay together! Some ideas:

·       Host virtual troop meetings.

·       Gather up in smaller groups—such as age-level groups, patrols, or groups of girls with a particular badge they’d like to work on.

Transportation. Individual parents drop off and pick up their own girls from meetings. Carpooling should be avoided, where possible, to maintain social distancing.

Day trips and activities. In conjunction with Safety Activity Checkpoints, follow the same guidance as Troop Meetings and Hygiene and COVID-19 Risk Mitigation guidance in this document.  Call ahead to the facility or vendor to confirm that they are following CDC and state health department guidelines. If activity or sporting equipment is being provided, ask the provider if they wipe down equipment in between uses, similar to equipment at the gym.  Make whatever appropriate accommodations that are necessary. For example, bring extra sanitizer if none will be provided for public use at the activity location.

Travel and overnight stays. All travel and overnight stays are suspended through June 30. Additional travel guidelines for July 1^st and beyond can be found here:

Hygiene and COVID-19 Risk Mitigation. Follow the resources developed by credible public health sources such as CDC or your local public health department. Share these with girls and volunteers and ensure that they are practiced during meetings and activities. Place signs in the meeting or activity space to remind girls and volunteers to engage in everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Signs should include:

·       Stay home if you are sick.

·       Cough and sneeze into a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash, and wash or sanitize your hands.

·       Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

·       Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Wash hands if you do touch.

·       Volunteers, girls and parents should be reminded to make sure temperatures are taken prior to group interaction to confirm the individual is not running a fever and temperature is a normal 98.6 degrees  Members with fever or temperature higher than 98.6 should skip the in-person gathering until their temperature is normal.                                                                                                                     

Personal contact. Hugs, handshakes, “high-fives,” and even activities like the friendship circle or squeeze can transmit COVID-19 from person to person. Refrain from these gestures for the time being. Create a safe way for girls and volunteers to greet and end meetings instead (like tapping elbows).

First Aid Supplies. Troop first aid supplies should include COVID-19 prevention items including hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol), tissues, disposable facemasks, and disinfectants.

Disinfectants and Disinfecting. Routinely clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched (i.e., table tops, markers, scissors, etc.). Use a household cleaner, or see the EPA’s list of effective cleaners approved for use against COVID-19. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).

Face Coverings. Volunteers should remind girls that Girl Scouts wear face coverings (masks) not only to protect themselves but to protect others. Face coverings are a civic responsibility and a sign of caring for the community.  Girls can bring their own face coverings.

Reporting and communicating a positive COVID 19 test. In the event of a COVID-19 positive test result, do NOT contact the parents or troop members.  Promptly contact your council in this situation.  A council staff member and NOT volunteers, will be responsible for:

·       Confirming and tracing the positive tester,

·       Contacting the parents of anyone who may have been exposed (or other volunteers),

·       Notifying a facility or homeowner where a troop has met, and

·       Alerting the state department of health.

Let other volunteers know that council staff, NOT volunteers, will notify parents and others about a positive test result and that the tester’s identity is confidential. Remember that girl and volunteer health information is private and strictly confidential and should be only shared on a need to know basis with a council staff member.