We are excited to see you in Siren! We are observing various precautions in hopes of looking out for the health and wellbeing of our entire community.
OmegaSpring 2024 will have some updates to our prior COVID-19 protocols – daily testing is expected for all attendees, and will be self-conducted by each individual in their respective hotel rooms. While everyone is still expected to be up-do-date on their vaccines, proof of vaccination for COVID-19 at the door will no longer be required.
If you are not feeling well, experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, or have tested positive in the 10 days prior to OmegaCon we respectfully ask that you stay home.
In addition to everything outlined below regarding our time at the Lodge, we strongly encourage you to maintain safe masking and distancing in your travels on the way to the Lodge and while out and about in Siren and the surrounding communities.
Communication & Consent
It is impossible to know someone’s comfort levels around personal space, touch, hugging, etc., without directly asking them. Please be thoughtful about boundaries – we hope you are doing this regardless of a global pandemic. Check in about things like hugging and be prepared to voice your own needs – for example if masking and/or maintaining distance will help you be more comfortable.
Daily Testing for Everyone
We are modifying our past policy of DTPfOOM (Daily Testing Path for Observation of Optional Masking) to DTFE (Daily Testing for Everyone):
- Each attendee is expected to self-test daily in their hotel room each morning (or as early as possible on day of arrival) before joining the convention (Thursday-Sunday), regardless of masking status. We will be reminding everyone of this at Registration/badge pickup.
- If an attendee tests positive, including very faint lines on tests, or develops COVID-19 symptoms , they are no longer eligible to attend the convention and must leave.
- We encourage those who can provide extra tests to bring them to Registration/badge pickup to donate to those who may need them.
- Additionally, we strongly encourage you to test prior to your arrival at the convention. If you are experiencing symptoms related to or test positive for COVID-19, please do not attend and contact us to let us know.
You can find testing locations in Minnesota here: health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/testsites/index.html .
You can order rapid antigen at-home tests for free via sayyeshometest.org . Your health insurance plan may also cover free tests.
We highly recommend that everyone attending OmegaCon take a COVID-19 test 3-5 days afterwards. If you test positive please let us know. Your identity will remain confidential.
Masks Are Strongly Recommended
- It is strongly recommended but not required that all attendees wear masks during the convention.
- We highly recommend the use of higher-grade, snugly-fitting masks (such as N95 or KN95), as they have been shown to be the most effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19.
- Each attendee is expected to self-test daily as outlined above regardless of their masking choice.
- Please be considerate of others. Check in with those at your table or in the room with you – if they are masked chances are they will appreciate you also masking.
COVID-19 Updated Vaccine is Required
Attendees are expected to be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccine (2023–2024 updated COVID-19 vaccine), if medically able prior to arrival. Proof of vaccination status will not be required at the door.
If you are not up to date on your COVID-19 vaccine, you are not eligible to attend OmegaCon Spring 2024.
You can find a vaccine site at vaccines.gov/search .
Why are we doing this?
- By increasing the testing coverage from 70% of attendees using DTPfOOM to 100% of attendees testing in their rooms, there will be better levels of coverage and detection for everyone.
- Polling of attendees indicates that there is a strong preference for individual testing and masking choice.
- Documentation of vaccine status has become increasingly difficult for attendees to obtain from medical providers, and for us to verify. We still expect you to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
We reserve the right to update our COVID-19 community expectations with more stringent guidelines if the data indicates a surge condition at the time of the convention.