TD Niagara Jazz Festival and COVID-19
This page will be updated during the COVID-19 crisis.
Bringing the community together is what we do, but with the COVID-19 outbreak, we need to take precautions. Your health and safety is of the utmost importance to us as is the health and safety of our artists, staff and volunteers.
The festival will be proceeding with caution during these challenging times.
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VACCINE & MASKING POLICY
Updated May 24, 2022
PURPOSE
This Policy has been developed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its objective is to maintain the health and safety of Niagara Jazz Festival stakeholders who conduct the work of the organization at any Festival Location (as defined below).
The purpose of this policy is to inform all Board members, employees, third party contractors and service providers (e.g., musicians and caterers), volunteers, and visitors (e.g., patrons) of the Niagara Jazz Festival (collectively referred to as “Covered Individuals”) who qualify for COVID-19 vaccinations (i.e., those currently over the age of 12) of how the Niagara Jazz Festival is addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for the COVID-19 vaccination in the Niagara Jazz Festival’s Workplace prior to entry into it, and consequences of not being vaccinated against COVID-19.
The best available medical evidence demonstrates that full vaccination against COVID-19 greatly minimizes the risks of contracting COVID-19 and reduces the spread and severity of the virus within the community. It is a strong recommendation of all federal, provincial and municipal health authorities that everyone who is able to get vaccinated do so as soon as possible. The Niagara Jazz Festival is committed to taking every reasonable precaution for the protection of the and other stakeholders from the hazard of COVID-19, including but not limited to as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”) and all applicable public health and safety, human rights, privacy, and other laws, their standards, regulations, and/or guidelines in the development and implementation of this policy.
POLICY
We move to follow the Province’s provincial regulations in relation to the same subject to the policies and procedures implemented by the venues where we hold any events. Currently, the provincial regulations are that no proof of vaccination is required to gain access or attend businesses or facilities. However, any venues’ policies and procedures shall govern attendance or admittance into such venue. Events hosted by the Niagara Jazz Festival in venues whose policies require vaccination for admittance will include this requirement in its details.
In relation to attendance of our indoor events, masking will continue to be required until June 10, 2022, except when patrons are seated at their tables/in their seats for the performance. Outdoors masking and indoor masking after June 10, 2022 is optional, but encouraged , particularly when travelling between tables/seats.
RISK
Attendees understand and agree that there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place where people are present. The Niagara Jazz Festival keeps current with and follows all provincial public health regulations and Niagara Region community advice to ensure all necessary and reasonable precautions are being met to reduce chances of exposure to the virus, but we ask you to please take what precautions you deem necessary to protect yourself and others and avoid attending any performance if you are presenting any symptoms. The responsibility for staying safe is shifting to each of us and our personal actions. The COVID-19 virus remains in high circulation in Niagara and will continue to pose a risk in our community. By taking actions to prevent the spread of infection, you are helping to protect our entire community and to protect those who are more vulnerable from COVID-19 infection.
Please be kind, understanding, and respectful of differences in other community members differing levels of concern about their ongoing risk from the pandemic when interacting with one another.
SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY
This policy applies to all Covered Individuals and any others who this policy is deemed applicable to at the discretion of the Executive Director and/or Board of Directors.
DEFINITIONS
“Workplace” includes, but is not restricted to, all land and property, owned, leased, operated, used, or otherwise controlled by the Niagara Jazz Festival for the purpose of conducting organizational business. It also applies to social or other gatherings supported or attended by the Niagara Jazz Festival that any of the Covered Individuals attend at in person. It does not include an individual’s own home and/or any virtual attendance.