Please use the following link to upload informationt to verify all participants' COVID 19 Vaccine/Testing status according to the protocols outlined below.

https://app.crowdpass.co/test/auth/signin?callbackUrl=app.crowdpass.co/auth/6400

The following policies are in place for the 2022 National Speech Tournament. These policies may be revised as circumstances change or as official guidance from the CDC or University of Nebraska-Lincoln is revised.

★ Health & Safety Policy I - Vaccination/Testing Requirement

■ All participants (competitors, judges, tournament staff, observers) at the National Speech Tournament should have received all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

● Participants who received their second dose of the

Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine prior to October 18 should receive a booster dose prior to March 18.

● Participants who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine prior to January 18 should receive a booster dose prior to March 18.

● Participants who have yet to begin a primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine should complete their second dose by March 18.

● The NST will provide participants a portal in which to upload proof of vaccination. Such proof should be provided by March 21.

■ Any participant who does not meet the above requirements must provide proof of a negative test taken after 5:00 PM Central Time on March 31.

● Tests must be verifiable. The following options are available to participants who need a negative test:

○ A laboratory administered COVID-19 test, such as a PCR test or NAAT test. Participants who have had COVID-19 in the previous 90 days should not rely on a PCR test, as they may receive a false positive.

○ A video observed at-home test, such as the BinaxNOW/eMed or Flowflex/AZOVA tests. At-home tests performed without video observation will not be accepted.

○ An at-home test performed while being observed by tournament staff during the registration period.

■ Individuals who do not meet the vaccine requirement or the testing requirement will not be allowed to participate in or observe the tournament in any capacity.

■ Individuals who supply misrepresented proof of vaccination or negative tests will not be permitted to participate in the tournament. They and their programs may be subject to sanctions according to the NST Bylaws section XIII. Such sanctions may include denial of participation in district tournaments and the NST for up to three years.

■ Participants who meet the vaccine or testing requirement will be provided a wristband or lanyard to signify compliance with the health & safety policy. Tournament staff may ask to see the wristband or lanyard at any time

during the tournament. Failure to present the wristband or lanyard may result in disqualification.

★ Health & Safety Policy II - Masking Policy

■ All participants must wear masks indoors at all times with two exceptions:

● Competitors may remove their mask to perform.

○ Competitors may choose to remove their mask to perform, but must maintain twelve feet of distance to all other participants in the room at all times.

○ Competitors may also choose to wear their mask while performing.

○ All non-performing participants must continue to wear their mask during performances.

○ All competitors may not begin speaking until they are at the front of the performance space; they are not allowed to approach the audience during a performance for any reason, including handing out materials.

○ Competitors and observers may exit a competition room at any time in accordance with the NST “open door” policy.

○ Judges will be instructed to not consider whether or not a student was wearing a mask in adjudication.

○ Programs are encouraged to bring their own supply of high quality masks (KF-94, KN-95, N-95). The tournament will have a supply of N-95 masks available. Each program will be assessed a $25.00 fee in order to facilitate this supply.

● Participants may remove their mask while actively eating or drinking.

○ Dining options are available in the Nebraska Union.

○ Participants are encouraged to take their food outside to eat. There are a number of tables available outside the Union.

○ Participants may also choose to dine at numerous establishments a close walk from campus.

○ The tournament schedule has been designed in a manner to give participants multiple options for dining.

● Participants who refuse to comply with mask requirements will be removed from the tournament. They and their programs may be subject to sanctions according to the NST Bylaws section XIII. Such sanctions may include denial of participation in district tournaments and the NST for up to three years.

● Disqualification decisions will be at the discretion of the Tournament Director and/or the Chair. There is no process for appeal.

★ Health and Safety Policy III - Isolation & Positive Tests

● If such a test is positive, those individuals are not allowed further participation in the tournament in any way and should leave campus immediately.

● Individuals with a positive COVID test should isolate according to CDC guidelines. Isolation housing will not be provided by the tournament.

● The NST encourages programs to obtain at-home tests in order to perform testing on symptomatic individuals as needed.

★ Health and Safety Policy IV - Mitigation

■ The NST and tournament host will, to the best of their ability, arrange venues for opening assembly and awards that maximize social distancing.

■ Participants should be aware that in competition rooms where it is possible for windows to be opened, they will be opened, regardless of the outside temperature.

■ UNL air handling systems have been designed to recirculate outside air at a rate above the ASHRAE standard; to ensure campus safety, UNL Facilities is increasing taking in outdoor air to double the standard.

■ High-touch points in high-traffic student and public use areas are being cleaned and disinfected twice a day by UNL custodial staff.

■ UNL Operations has designed and built free-standing large capacity hand-sanitizer dispenser stations that are strategically located in high-traffic areas throughout campus.

■ District meetings may be conducted, but district chairs are responsible to ensure that they take place using the standards set forth for all other tournament activities. Disqualification penalties include all District meetings. Violations of any of these policies during a District meeting will result in immediate disqualification from the tournament and may result in sanctions according to the NST Bylaws section XIII. Such sanctions may include denial of a team's participation in district tournaments and the NST for up to three years.