An updated COVID-19 pre-event medical screening checklist (Revised December 2020) is available to help you determine whether to stay home or not during the pandemic. It shares symptoms to look for as well as defines “close contact.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, “close contact” means:

• You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period
• You had direct physical contact with an infected person
• You shared eating or drinking utensils
• An infected person sneezed, coughed or otherwise got respiratory droplets on you

If any one of these happened to you prior to a Scouting event, stay home.

This checklist includes symptoms to look out for. If anyone in your household experiences any of these symptoms prior to an event, everyone in the household must stay home. Even if you think your symptoms are the result of allergies, stay home.

• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Fever of 100 degrees or greater
• Flu-like symptoms
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Loss of taste or smell
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting

You should also stay home if you’ve had a COVID-19 test and are awaiting results. The virus can affect people differently; you can experience multiple symptoms or none.

Symptoms and close contact aren’t the only considerations you should take into account before meeting. National’s COVID-19 page provides a Restart Scouting Checklist, which provides guidance on group sizes, travel, and dining and tenting protocols. Review these pages and also check local and state COVID-19 guidelines. In case of an injury or illness, promptly report the incident, including COVID-19 exposures. Utilize Incident Reporting Resources, including COVID-19 instructions.

The COVID-19 FAQs page has also been updated this month to include additional guidance on advancement and extensions.

Again, if you are experiencing symptoms or are awaiting COVID-19 test results, don’t attend any meeting or activity. When you meet, wear a face covering that covers your mouth and nose, stay at least 6 feet apart from others, and wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.