COVID-19 SAFE PRACTICE GUIDELINES
Fair Event Guideline
This guideline is intended for Fair administrators such as agency fairs on the Navajo
Nation. The guideline is set for community fair and similar events in the Navajo Nation.
This guideline is intended for use by event planners, local officials, participating
vendors, entertainers, and other personnel working with the planning and execution of
these events. The guideline is to support ensuring safe community activities at fair events.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
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Setting: Community fair events and similar events
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Rodeos (All rodeo associated events, roping, wrestling, riding, etc.)
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Cultural/competitive dances (Pow-wow, song and dance)
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Entertainment/fundraising dances (Country/western dances, community, youth dances, concerts)
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Other events (Carnivals, parades, BBQ, expositions, mud bogging, frybread contests, agriculture, 4-H)
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Camping at any of these events
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Non-food vendors such as arts & crafts, expositions and similar events
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Food vendors must also follow the COVID-19 Safe Practices Guidelines Temporary Food Section
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Community fair event administrators and the fair boards shall be responsible for ensuring that these guidelines are followed.
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All event staff, volunteers, contractors, including touring competitor, artists, performers, tech crews, and support staff shall adhere to guidelines for containing the COVID-19 pandemic set forth in this guidance.
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Indoor and outdoor occupancy must adhere to the most recent Public Health Emergency Order.
1. COVID VACCINE VERIFICATION
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The fair event organizers are encouraged to conduct COVID vaccine verification.
2. WHO CAN ATTEND?
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Staff should clearly communicate steps to be taken before, during, and after the event to ensure that all attendees are aware of safety protocols.
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It is strongly recommended that those who attend:
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If eligible, have been fully vaccinated and up-to-date, or
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Are not currently required to isolate or quarantine due to a COVID exposure or positive test
result, and -
Are not currently sick, and/or experiencing COVID symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of
breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat,
congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) -
People at increased risk of severe illness might need to take extra precautions.
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Those recently tested for COVID and still waiting on results should not attend until those results are final and “negative”.
3. FOLLOWING BASIC COVID-19 SAFE PRACTICES
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Practice the three W’s.
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Wear a Mask: Wear masks in accordance with current public health emergency orders. Masks do not have to be worn when eating and drinking. Disposable masks must be made available for all.
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Wash Hands: Use hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol or hand washing stations
that are convenient, and accessible for all. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially:-
Before eating or preparing food
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Before touching your face
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After using the restroom
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After leaving a public place
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After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
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After handling your mask
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After changing a diaper
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After caring for someone sick
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After touching animals or pets
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Watch Distance: Maintain physical distance of at least 6 feet.
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Get your updated flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.
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Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
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Self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival.
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Stay home when sick with COVID symptoms.
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To ensure potential exposures are reported and mitigated appropriately, implement the following:
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Create a plan of action when a staff member (including family) is sick. The plan should include:
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Temporarily close operations if any staff member shows symptoms common to COVID-19 or
involved as a potential close contact until areas of contacted by staff are cleaned and
disinfected.
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Report all COVID-19 cases to local health care facility, and to the HCOC COVID-19 Report Exposure Portal.
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For questions about reporting cases, call the Health Command Operations Center at (928) 871-7014.
4. PROMOTING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT
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Ensure there are enough hygiene supplies to disinfect effectively, such as hand soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, tissues, hand wipes.
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Post signage:
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Prohibiting anyone who is sick or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms from entering the space.
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3 W’s (wearing a mask, watching physical distance, and washing hands)
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Require volunteers, contestants, staff, and contractors to conduct self-screening for COVID-19, and if available, rapid antigen testing.
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Provide safety training and education on COVID-19 for volunteers, staff, and contractors.
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Communicate to volunteers, staff, vendors, and contractors are subject to Navajo Nation Public Health Emergency orders.
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Ensure that all water systems like drinking fountains, decorative fountains, and other religious fountains are safe to use after a prolonged facility shut down to minimize the risk of Legionnaires’ disease and other waterborne diseases.
5. PHYSICAL DISTANCING
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Adhere to the maximum occupancy limits per the most recent Public Health Emergency Order.
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Attendees must maintain 6-feet or more.
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Adjust seating to maintain physical distance between members of different households.
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Ensure at least a 6-feet distance between each booth (vendors), including equipment and storage areas.
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Gatherings and activities are strongly recommended to be held outdoors if weather permits.
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If using a canopy, use physical guides to maintain 6 feet physical distancing inside of the canopy
A. Crowd Control
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If space allows; establish physical barriers & pedestrian traffic- "EGRESS" wider aisles or even a one-way traffic control.
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Indoor or outdoor venues, space organizers should consider separate entrances and exits to the venue to allow one-way flow of attendees.
B. General Public Spectators and Non-competition Attendees
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Adjust seating capacity and stage setting to meet occupancy guidelines.
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Separate attendees from technical personnel, performers, and competition participants at all times.
C. Competition Participants (contestants, performers etc.)
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Avoid large groups and divide participants into smaller groups along with staggered start and end times.
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For example, in races, groups are divided into ‘numbered corrals’ with different time intervals. Corral 1 starts race at 9am, corral 2 starts race at 9:15am.
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Where lines form, use signage and floor decals to maintain 6 feet physical distancing.
6. FOOD AND/OR DRINKS
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While eating food indoors, ensure proper ventilation while maintaining physical distancing, including pavilions, tents, and canopies.
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Use single-use disposable plates, cups, utensils, and prepackaged condiments.
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Limit crowding where the food is served and/or ordered.
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Food vendors must follow the Nation Food Handler Training and Food Service Permit Protocols by the Navajo Environmental Health & Protection Program.
7. CLEANING
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Disposable disinfectant wipes can made available for attendees to utilize for cleaning and disinfection.
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Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and any areas after the event, such as seats, doorknobs, tables, restrooms, microphones, electronic devices, etc.
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If someone is sick or has tested positive for COVID-19, disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
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Intensify cleaning with detergent or soap and water then disinfection through implementation of daily protocols and document completion on a cleaning log.
8. VENTILATION
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Increase the circulation of indoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors, using fans, or other methods.
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Ensure that ventilation systems of indoor spaces operate correctly, are well maintained, and all ventilation system filters have been serviced and replaced.
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Avoid crowded areas, especially when indoors that do not have fresh air from the outdoors if you are at increased risk of getting sick from COVID-19
9. TENT AND CANOPY USAGE
Tent and canopies are used in many outdoor activities, while in use, the following are recommended:
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Tent skirt should be partially installed to provide adequate ventilation.
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½ of the skirt can partially be installed to protect public address (PA) system and other electronic pieces of equipment.
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All other items within this guideline pertain to tent revivals.
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Hand washing station and/or hand sanitizer(s) will be in or outside the tent.
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Provide masks for attendees.
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Management entities overseeing or managing the tent revival shall be responsible for ensuring that these guidelines are followed.
10. NAVAJO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND NAVAJO OHSA AUTHORITY
NNOSHA recommendations CFR 1926 and 1910 STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS protocols and enforcement:
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Inspections of all the Navajo Nation fairs, punch list are:
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Americans with Disabilities access and compliance.
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Egress one-way traffic control.
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6 feet physical distancing.
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Restroom facilities: ensure the safe, and monitored, handwashing/sanitizing stations, limit the number of people who can occupy the restroom at one time.
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Ensure that all water systems like drinking fountains, decorative fountains, and other shared fountains are safe to use after a prolonged facility shut down to minimize the risk of Legionnaires’ disease and other waterborne diseases.
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Waterlines must be flushed weeks leading up to the event
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11. DEVELOP POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO PREVENT SPREAD OF COVID-19
All organizations planning, managing, and organizing events for community exhibitions must develop COVID-19 policies and procedures.
The policies and procedures must follow the items below:
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General Requirements
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Who Can Attend?
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Following Basic COVID-19 Safe Practices
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Promoting a Safe Environment
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Physical Distancing
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Food and/or Drinks
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Cleaning
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Ventilation
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Compliance with Navajo Environmental Health and Navajo OHSA (NOSHA)
All organizers will be required to submit a COVID-19 Fair Safety Plan to the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development before opening of fair.
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Email reopening plans to: navajoeconomy@navajo-nsn.gov
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Subject line: Navajo Nation COVID-19 Fair Safety Plan
For questions, please contact the Health Command Operations Center at (928) 871-7014
Additional information can be found at https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19