Special Considerations regarding Covid

SBF takes the safety of our community seriously; these are measures we've taken regarding Covid-19.
 


Vaccination QR Codes

All SBF attendees must be fully vaccinated (two weeks after their final vaccination required for that vaccine), must have a valid SMART/Fhir-compatible QR Code that we can scan and digitally validate that you are fully vaccinated, and a state photo ID (driver's license).

You can find a list of states/provinces that have QR Codes we currently support at: VizCat

Register and receive your QR Code at those locations - remember your PIN and save a copy of your QR Code on your mobile phone.

  • In early 2020, California deployed a digitally-signed QR Code system for verifying Covid vaccination status. This was based on the SMART/FHIR system - which is also being used by Quebec, quickly followed by Colorado, Washington, British Columbia, and many other states. A number of East coast states use an incompatible CLEAR QR Code system that cannot be digitally scanned/verified.

  • If you intend to attend SBF, you need to get your SMART/FHIR QR Code first. Some vaccination providers are a bit lax in forwarding your vaccination records to the state. If there are errors in your record, it may take a few weeks to get your state to correct it. Save your QR Code on your mobile phone; we will not be accepting printed vaccination cards at the door.

  • The point of a digitally-signed QR Code is that printed vaccination cards can be lost, damaged, faked/hacked. Fake vaccination cards can be readily ordered online (or made at home), and several cases of fake vaccination cards being used at dance events have been reported. We do not accept vaccination cards or any other form of printed verification - No EXCEPTIONS. Any attempt to bypass this check-in process will result in a permanent ban.

  • We recommend that once you have your SMART/FHIR QR Code that you register on VizCat, activate your account for contact tracing, then scan and Link your QR Code to streamline your check-in process.

  • If you are an event organizer, please request a Greeter account from: VizCat. If you choose to use a different app to verify QR Codes, be certain to test that the app actually verifies the digital signature. It's possible to display vaccination data without verifying the signature - which would allow faked QR Codes through. I have provided a fake QR Code to test with: QR Code Digital Signatures.

    Let us know if you have other questions about Vaccination QR Codes or SBF's verifier app.
     


    Covid and my Promise to You

    Some believe that if we just wait long enough (another couple of years), Covid will be controlled and life will go back to normal.

    I disagree.

    I believe Covid has become endemic to the human biome, like the common cold and herpes. Prior to vaccines, the focus was to minimize catching/spreading Covid, as it was deadly to a significant number of humans and it spread readily via droplets from mouth and nose.

    Vaccines have significantly reduced the number of people catching Covid, and dramatically reduced the number of people suffering severe/long-lasting symptoms and death.

    However, a small number of vaccinated people can still catch and spread Covid. They will likely not have noticeable symptoms, making it easier to spread to those who cannot or have refused to be vaccinated.

    Even if the population is 100% vaccinated, we will never achieve a risk-free environment. We need to continue using masks to minimize the ongoing spread of Covid.

    The good news is that since the advent of Covid vaccinations, ICU load and deaths are no longer spiking to the levels of Covid case spikes. For regions that are continuing to wear masks, the case spikes have diminished. The take-home: get vaccinated and wear masks.

    In early 2020, SBF investigated/discussed/established criteria that we would use to determine when to shut down, and when we would re-open. Re-opening was dependent on the development of vaccines and the level at which they were adopted.

    As of November 2021, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties have achieved that level of vaccination. We waited a bit with the advent of the Delta Variant - but it appears that existing Covid vaccinations are demonstrating efficacy on this and other variants. We now have the Omicron variant that spreads even faster than Delta, but existing vaccinations appear to have good efficacy against Omicron, and have decided to reopen.

    Here's my pledge to you:

  • I will do my best to ensure that everyone attending SBF events is vaccinated. We are doing this through the enforcement of Vaccination QR Codes.

  • I will do my best to ensure that all attendees wear masks while on our premises. If I am not able to enforce this, I will shut down SBF.

  • Through registration and QR Code scans, I will do my best to provide contact tracing if anyone is reported to have contracted Covid. I will be asking everyone who attends SBF promise to let us know as soon as possible if they have contracted Covid.

  • If a Covid outbreak (multiple cases) occurs in the broader Bay Area dance community, I will shut down SBF. Liewise is WHO reports a new new Variant of Concern. I will investigate cases/spread and determine whether and under what conditions we might re-open.

    Love you all - Bob Free, Founder/Organizer of South Bay Fusion