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***ATTENTION! LONG READ***
We promised that your safety is our utmost priority, and we believe that a transparent communication with regards to COVID-19 and the results of the safety measures we have taken at our event is a very relevant part of this promise and approach.
The three most important lines of defense to avoid massive spread of infections in the aftermath of our event were:
First, let me be clear that such an event as we organized is for a variety of reasons a high-risk event in a pandemic. Bringing together 1000 people from – in the case of the 2021 event – 37 different countries to get very close to each other for an entire weekend, mostly inside a building, exercising an exhausting sport with heavy breathing, is the exact description of a super spreading event. That means there is no other option but to take responsibility and to do what is necessary to avoid spreading the virus.
In total 84% of our attendees were fully vaccinated or recovered, and only 16% were needed to be called to do a daily rapid test or a PCR test. It is important to point out that by all what we know by now, an antigen (rapid) test in best case has a reliable validity of max. 12 hours. Which is one of the reasons why we closed the event every day pretty early to not exceed the 12-hour time span for the average attendee, and that is why we required a daily test taken just before entering the venue.
The COVID status and the test results were strictly and rigorously controlled, not only at the check in, but on all days at all times, to ensure the validity of such documents.
We had in total 12 attendees including instructors which were already tested positive the days before the event, and which thus stayed home. This way avoiding that they could possibly bring the virus to the event, and this drastically displays that the virus is not far away from our community.
During the event we had another two attendees which at our mobile test station got tested positive before entering the venue and consequently had to return home.
After the event we had a pretty good return of test reports by our attendees and our team. More than 25% of all attendees (and more than 45% among our team members) got tested in the 14 days after the event (a considerable percentage of them vaccinated attendees) and reported their test results back to us. In total 97,5% of all results were negative, and six results came in positive.
Of those 6 positive test results, after examining carefully the circumstances and the timeline of events, it turned out that
It is worth to point out that of those 6 positive tested attendees 4 have not been vaccinated, one was partly vaccinated and one was fully vaccinated.
The use of masks at all times indoors was a condition by the German authorities to give us permission for such an event. It was vastly communicated to the attendees before the event, during the registration process and at the venue. On Friday the mandatory masks were not consistently enforced as we wanted to give common sense a chance first. After we realized on Friday that with time the use of the masks went considerably down to around 50% of the attendees, we changed the strategy on Saturday to remind everybody consistently and permanently about the use of masks, which brought it up to around 90% of the attendees using the masks inside the building.
We believe that the use of masks is an important low key measure to keep everybody safe. The fact that we did not have any massive spread of infections during/after the event – especially in comparison with other comparable events without safety measures - could be attributed to the wide-spread use of masks inside the venue in conjunction with a restrictive access strategy and consistent test strategy.
The native tailored app which has been designed especially for the event, had two main functions:
The event app worked very effectively to ensure keeping distance during the event, to provide us with the necessary information to evaluate our measures and steps taken and to trace contacts when needed.
The number of positive tested attendees before the event and also the numbers show above after the event show clearly how important it is to take serious health and safety measures. An international large-scale event has a high potential to spread infections far beyond the borders and to create a high number of infected and even seriously ill people in our community and beyond.
We believe that it is our responsibility as organizers to do everything possible to keep our attendees -and our team – safe. This includes to go sometimes beyond the minimum requirements the authorities require from us. Safety cannot be negotiated.
In fact there is a lot of uncertainty regarding travel in those times. We will try to answer some of them here. This section will be updated as much as needed to reflect those changes.
In general, from August 1st onward, in order to enter Germany, regardless of the means of transportation, a proof of full vaccination, recovery from COVID-19 or a negative test is required. Even if you come by car. Those documents have to be presented at the check in if you come by plane.
Proof of vaccination is only accepted for the following vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. Sinovac, Sputnik or any other vaccine is not accepted for entry to Germany.
The german authorities classify all countries in four different categories. For each category they apply different regulations:
Category 1 - no risk areas
Can enter freely Germany, only - see above - proof of vaccination recovery or negative test is required.
Countries in this category i.e.: Poland, Austria, Sweden, Italy
Category 2 - risk areas with high risk
Entry to Germany is fully possible for all travellers with proof of full vaccination or proof of recovery. For all others, if you are not vaccinated or recovered, you are required to go into a 10 day mandatory quarantine, which you can test out after 5 days with a negative test.
You must fill out this digital form before entering Germany. To the same portal you must upload your proof of vaccination or recovery or your test certificate when entering Germany.
There are exceptions for those which are travelling for business (i.e. professional training or teaching) and those taking part in a sports competition (i.e. Stargate shows) if you do not enter Germany for more than 120 hours. Those falling unter those exceptions must present a negative test every day.
Countries in this category i.e.: Spain, Russia, UK, Cyprus
Category 3 - areas with virus variations
No entry to Germany allowed. Countries in this category i.e.: South Africa
The list of risk areas is updated every Friday. Find the full list here:
Your safety is our utmost priority. We give access to the event to those which either
- are fully vaccinated (last shot at least 2 weeks before the event)
OR
- are fully recovered (positive PCR test at least 1 month, max 6 month before event)
OR
- do present a negative PCR test which is not older than 24 hours at the start of the event (Friday 2pm)
OR
- do present every day a negative rapid (antigen) test before entering the premises of the event
To make it as comfortable as possible we will have a test station at the venue, right in front of the entrance. The test station will be open every day from 11am - 4pm. The test is free for all those which are registered in Germany (regardless of their nationality). The test cost 8€ for all others.
Beside that there are plenty of test stations around the venue (but higher costs there for non germans)
If you are concerned about your safety at a large event, and if you want to make sure, that your safety is our utmost priority - check this video to understand what measures we will take to keep you safe! Please note that the definitive and precise measures will only be known by August.
Our upmost priority is to keep you and everybody safe. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we need to follow a number of regulations and restrictions from the side of the authorities to make this event happening and to keep you safe. Please note that we must insist that everybody is following the rules which we will need to apply.
Those regulations can be changed any time following the development of the pandemic, they can be released (hopefully), but they also might be tightened. We will send an update to all registered attendees a few days before the event per email. And of course the full list of regulations will be put up at the venue for everybody to be reminded at all times.
We are sure that you are well aware that in the current situation such an event can only be done with a large number of safety regulations. Do not expect this to be an event as we were used to have before March 2020.
At the registration desk you will need to fill in a form with information regarding your health and your travel history for the last two weeks. You will also required to sign a liability form. Those forms will be kept a max of 4 weeks for the authorities and will be automatically deleted after 4 weeks.
We will check you in and out every time you enter or leave the premises of the event by scanning the NFC Chip in your wristband to keep record of your attendance. The same will happen every time you attend a workshop.
We will measure your temperature every time you enter the venue using contactless thermometers. No entrance granted with high temperature/fever. In case of high temperature you need to see a doctor and stay home.
Whenever possible, especially when cueing at the bar, bathrooms or registration, or chatting with each other, please keep your distance to others as much as possible.
Play it safe - Wearing a mask INDOORS at all times is required in order to keep everybody safe. In the OUTDOORS area we require wearing a mask when you are not dancing. We do provide you with a mask at the registration desk if needed. The mask must cover mouth AND nose fully at all times. This is for everybody. We all have family/friends/colleagues.
Disinfect your hands after every dance with your partner or close contact or as often as possible. Desinfectant stations are placed in every room. We also will provide you with nurturing hand cream.
Mind recommended sneeze & cough etikette and only sneeze and cough into your elbows.
The Tempodrom does have a very strong air condition able to renew the air more than twice per hour. Together with the room height of 32m, that makes up for a safe space. In the Mövenpick we will air thoroughly all rooms once an hour or more often if needed adding up to the strong air condition in all rooms.
When using the bathrooms wash your hands with soap regularly and for at least 20 seconds.
For the comfort of your dance partner and other close contacts, use the deodorant we provided in the bathrooms for everybody to use.
No alcoholic drinks will be sold or served at the bar during the event.
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