Health and Safety

Please be advised that as you enter the venue for any of our events, you will be greeted by the following important information:

The Independence Squares board continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely. The guidelines below are subject to change based on case numbers. Please read future announcements sent via email and check back here for updates.

If you would like to research more information about COVID-19 trends, here is a site which might be helpful:
– PA Dept. of Health: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

Additional information is available through the New York Times COVID newsletter here: NY Times

Independence Squares is committed to the safety of all attendees at our events.  We are aware that COVID is not over and continue to be aware of people’s concerns about not transmitting or being infected with the COVID virus. We are keeping an eye on the incidence of COVID infection, hospitalization, and ICU admittance. We are prepared to revise these recommendations based on further changes in conditions and on the recommendations of agencies such as the CDC, US Public Health Services, the FDA, IAGSDC, and our club and wider square dance communities. The Board of directors has updated our safety protocols as follows: 

• Masks: Independence Squares no longer requires dancers to wear face masks during dancing. Mask-wearing is optional, but strongly recommended, for summer dances and in the 2023 fall session of classes. We recommend that people continue to wear masks to help protect ourselves and each other and we will continue to provide masks at our dances and classes. The club respects the decision of any attendee who wishes to wear a face mask.
• COVID Vaccinations: : Independence Squares no longer requires dancers and callers to be up-to-date with their COVID vaccinations and boosters. We no longer require proof of vaccinations/boosters to attend our dances and classes. We encourage all in our square dance community to keep informed of the offerings from the FDA and consult with their care providers and get the vaccines and boosters that are appropriate for their circumstances.
• Health and Safety: We encourage frequent hand washing and/or using hand sanitizer immediately after each tip.
• Snacks: If you wish to bring snacks to one of our events to share with others, we encourage you to bring items that come in individual servings.
• A club provided “Waiver and Release Of Liability” must be signed in the presence of a club officer or designee upon attending your first post shutdown Independence Squares event.  The form can be downloaded and can be printed in advance and brought to the event. The form is to be signed in the presence of a club officer or designee.  Copies will be available at the event. 

Health Related Communications

The Board of Directors of Independence Squares will continue to monitor COVID-19 trends and our safety protocols and will make certain to communicate any protocol changes to the membership. Such notification will be done through our Google Group email list. The same list will be used to notify our dancers of possible exposures if a dancer informs us of a positive COVID-19 test within 5 days of one of our events. The identity of the dancer will not be revealed.

If you are not on our Google Groups list but wish to receive notifications from us, please inform us as follows:

• To receive all emails that are sent out by Independence Squares, including protocol changes, notification of upcoming events, and notification of possible health related exposures at one of our events, you can join our Google Group here: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/independence-squares/join.

• To receive only notifications of a possible health related exposure at one of our events, email your request to: independencesquares@hotmail.com.

In either case, you can relay your wishes to us in person at any of our events by speaking with a club officer.