COVID-19 Updates

Staying Healthy – Preventing Communicable Diseases

Volunteers should take reasonable precautions to limit exposure and prevent transmission of communicable diseases (ex. chicken pox, COVID-19, influenza, measles, pink eye, etc.)

Remind potential participants to stay home if they are sick or showing signs of illness.
Maintain good hygiene. Allow for and encourage handwashing.
Clean and sanitize high touch surfaces, equipment, and shared supplies.

If known exposure of a communicable disease occurs at a Girl Scout meeting or event, follow guidance from Ohio Department of Health and CDC. Notify participants that they were exposed while maintaining confidentiality of the individual who is ill. If you don’t know the event coordinator (for example, attended a partner-led event or attended a council sponsored program), please submit a GSNEO Incident/Accident Report Form. Council staff will make reasonable attempts to notify participants who were in close contact.

COVID-19 FAQs

I‘ve been exposed to COVID-19, can I attend an upcoming event?

The Ohio Department of Health has released a flow chart based on the CDC’s guidance following an exposure to someone with COVID-19. Regardless of vaccination status or symptoms, anyone who has had a known exposure to COVID-19 should wear a mask around others for 10 days, with testing recommended after five full days.

I have COVID-19, can I attend an upcoming event?

The Ohio Department of Health has released a flow chart based on the CDC’s guidance. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 should isolate for at least 5 days. However, if symptoms are improving, isolation may end on the sixth day if the person consistently wears a mask for the next five days. Detailed quarantine and isolation guidance are available in the flow chart.

Can I require everyone that is participating in a Girl Scout event to have a vaccine?

No. GSNEO encourages, but does not require, vaccination for girls, volunteers, or staff. Deciding to receive a vaccine is a personal decision and GSNEO encourages everyone to respect the privacy of fellow members and their families. Vaccination status is private medical information.

Can we require everyone in our troop or group to take a COVID-19 test before participating in a Girl Scout activity or camp out?

At this time, GSNEO is not requiring a negative COVID-19 test to participate in meetings, programs, or overnight camping trips.

With the increased accessibility of testing, however, troops may decide to voluntarily take a test before their event, campout, or trip as an extra layer of precaution. Individual families may choose to participate in testing or not. In other words, troops may request, but not require COVID-19 testing.

Please note that testing is best done within 72 hours of the event, campout, or trip start; however, the closer the better.
Please consider cost and accessibility when suggesting this option to your group.
Maintain confidentiality. Like vaccination status, test status and test results are private medical information. Individual participation and results should not be shared with the group.

Can we participate in activities where an outside vendor or program provider requires attendees to show proof of vaccination OR a negative COVID test?

Yes. In some cases, our community partners and outside vendors are requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test. It is recommended that participation criteria are communicated and shared during the planning phase so that girls and their caregivers can evaluate requirements and their ability to participate. Individual families may choose to participate or not. For troop-related activities, we encourage consideration and selection of activities that promote inclusivity and belonging.

What if there is a COVID-19 exposure at an in-person Girl Scout event?

Sample notification:

Dear caregivers,

I’m writing to let you know that someone in our group has tested positive for [INSERT COMMUNICABLE DISEASE]. They received a positive test result on [INSERT DATE]. We wish them a quick recovery.

More information regarding [INSERT COMMUNICABLE DISEASE] can be found here [INSERT LINK TO CDC or OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESOURCE]. If you develop these symptoms, please contact your health professional.