OrcaCon 2025 Health & Safety Policy (Updated 3/31/24)

Team OrcaCon has been working hard to ensure the safety of all our attendees, our guests, and our volunteer crew. OrcaCon is committed to hosting the safest possible event for attendees and exhibitors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the uptick in RSV cases, flu season, general con crud, and have established the following safety measures to protect everyone at our event.

Vaccination Proof & Masks:

We have lifted the policies of requiring proof of vaccination and requirements of masks in all OrcaCon spaces. We dearly hope that you all will still get your vax and boosters before OrcaCon and we very much support all attendees wearing masks. We will have extra masks available if you lose yours or you decide you do wish to wear a mask. 

While we are not requiring masks, we also do not want anyone who chooses to wear a mask to be bullied and harassed about their choices. We expect many will still wear masks when they are playing with other attendees and we absolutely support this. 

In our surveys and casual discussions with attendees and volunteers, it’s about half for and half against lifting restrictions. There are accessibility issues no matter what we decide. We can only hope this change will support as many attendees and volunteers as we grow OrcaCon. If you have questions or concerns about this requirement, you can contact the Executive Director at info@orcacon.org 

HEALTH AND SAFETY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Please ensure that you have reviewed any advisories or restrictions that may be in place for travel to the United States and for travel to Sea-Tac,WA.

Please be advised that risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any event or public space, including OrcaCon. Prior to registering for and attending the event, please ensure you have read the latest CDC Guidelines for Prevention. By attending the event, you acknowledge this inherent risk on behalf of yourself and/or any Minor attending the event for which you serve as Guardian (collectively, “You”) and, as a condition of entering the event, You acknowledge, understand, and confirm each of the following in accordance with applicable health guidelines:

  • That You will abide by all terms of admission and participation (as may be updated from time to time) and event health-and-safety requirements at all times;
  • That You are not currently experiencing any of the following symptoms of COVID-19, the Flu, and RSV as identified at CDC.gov, including, but not limited to: 
      • Fever or chills
      • Cough
      • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
      • Fatigue
      • Muscle or body aches
      • Headache
      • New loss of taste or smell
      • Sore throat
      • Congestion or runny nose
      • Nausea or vomiting
      • Diarrhea
    •  
  • That prior to attending the event You have not been in contact with someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, the Flue, and RSV symptoms without completing a CDC-recommended quarantine;
  • That You are not under any self-quarantine or isolation orders or subject to any CDC self-quarantine or isolation protocol.

 

For purposes of this acknowledgment, a “Minor” means any individual who is under eighteen (18) years of age or has not reached the age of majority as defined by such individual’s jurisdiction of residence, and a “Guardian” means such Minor’s parent or legal guardian or other individual attending the Event who is over the age of eighteen (18) and acting in loco parentis for such Minor. Please see the event’s terms of participation to confirm the age requirements for entry.

 If at any point during Your time at the event You do not meet all of the above criteria, You will be required to isolate and may be relocated or asked to leave the venue at the sole discretion of event management.

OrcaCon Health & Safety Policy FAQs:

What happens if I lose my mask? 

OrcaCon will have plenty of free masks for you at the Info Booth and the OrcaCon Merch table.

What about sanitizer? 

We will have hand sanitizer at every OrcaCon station (registration, game library admin desk, Info Booth, et al.)

How will social distancing work?

We have always looked to accessibility when planning OrcaCon, with allowing large rows and spacing between tables. It won’t affect that too much in the game rooms, as we already do plenty of social distancing as it is. 

I do not agree with your policy. How do I get a refund? 

You can request a refund through our Tabletop.Events site. Refunds will not be given after January 1, 2025.