COVID-19 Safety Protocols
In alignment with Branch Out’s values of inclusion, collective leadership, and mutually-beneficial partnerships, Branch Out holds in-person alternative breaks with the following protocols in place. We will adapt as public health and community-specific conditions require, and in intentional conversation with community partners, housing partners, student leaders, and participants, following university, federal, state, and local guidelines.
We hold ourselves to high standards out of care and respect for our community partners, participants, and others with whom we are in community – particularly those who are at greater risk because of medical conditions or other factors. Participants who do not wish to abide by the protocols for in-person breaks are warmly invited to apply for virtual breaks when they are offered.
Vaccination requirement
- All participants and site leaders must be up-to-date on all available vaccines to participate in a Branch Out alternative break.
- Participants will take a rapid COVID test within 24 hours before their break departs. Only those who test negative may participate.
On the Break: Life Together
- If required by community partners or housing partners, participants will wear high-quality masks during the break.
- Branch Out will provide rapid tests for teams to take with them on the break in case a participant becomes symptomatic or learns that they have been a close contact
Quarantine and Isolation Protocols
- If a participant becomes symptomatic
- They are immediately quarantined and take a rapid test
- If a participant learns they were a close contact of someone who has since tested positive
- They must remain masked at all times while around others for five days post-exposure, including sleeping and eating in separate spaces from other participants
- Test on day five (day zero is the day of the exposure)
- If a participant tests positive
- They will isolate immediately in a hotel, paid for by Branch Out, in the local community for five days. Travel to the hotel will be in the Branch Out/OCE vehicle, with windows down, as much distance as possible, and masks on.
- They will then follow the isolation and quarantine timeframes as directed by public health guidelines or their healthcare provider
- Branch Out will do our best to provide meals for isolating participants, but they may need to arrange and pay for some of their own meals to some extent. Branch Out will reimburse those expenses upon the participant’s return
- Branch Out will provide return travel for any participants whose quarantine ends after the group departs the community
- All other participants continue to monitor for symptoms. They all test on day five - that is, five days after the day of the other participants’ positive test.
Partnership Matters
- Branch Out will share any community or housing partners’ additional COVID safety requirements with all participants.
Potential Transition to Remote Breaks
While we plan to hold all breaks in-person, we will monitor the situation closely in advance as things progress. We will immediately inform participants and partners if public health conditions require us to shift to remote breaks.
Site Leaders and the Site Coordinator will discuss the potential of developing remote projects with each of our community partners in advance of the breaks to ensure the most seamless transition possible.
