The following information is posted at the request of the USBCHA President and the National Finals Committee.
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Currently, there are no restrictions on outdoor activities in Virginia. Current guidance on mask- wearing can be found at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/situation-summary/.
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Due to the number of public events it hosts, Belle Grove has a direct communication link with the Governor’s Office in the event of a change on the Governor’s orders.
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As of September 1, 2021, 67.9% of Virginia’s 18+ population is fully vaccinated, and 76.3% has received at least one dose. More than 16,000 doses are being administered daily.
2021 SHEEPDOG FINALS COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS
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The Finals will be held under USBCHA interim rules, as recommended by the Covid Committee, and both adopted and extended by the Board.
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The 2021 Sheepdog Finals Committee has purchased hundreds of PPE items, including masks, hand sanitizers and alcohol wipes that will be available to handlers on both fields for easy access, as well as garbage receptacles. The hand sanitizers are in individual packs.
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Volunteers in charge of groundskeeping/cleanup have been instructed to deep clean the venue at the end of each day.
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Open food (e.g., cookie trays, etc.) will not be available in the hospitality and handler tents, or other areas open to handlers. Everything at hospitality will be individually packaged and or fruit. No trays of any sort will be out if not packaged. There will be coffee and all fixings, hot water for tea and hot chocolate. Bottled water also. The area for hospitality will also be larger than usual to allow more space for all.
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Extra porta-johns have been ordered and they will be spaced in the open field as far apart as allowed for cleaning.
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There will be more food (snack) vendors this year to alleviate long lines.
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For the Monday night reception/dinner, tables will be spread further apart than usual. There will
also be several smaller tents with tables / chairs skirting the outside of the open tent.
Attendance is not mandatory.
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A buffet dinner or boxed dinner will not be served to handlers at the USBCHA and ABCA Annual
meetings on Thursday evening. That event will be outdoors and abbreviated.
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Judges will have PPE items available to them at all times, will have dedicated sources of food and drinks. Scribes will be instructed to maintain distance and minimize contact with judges.
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If outside restrictions are in place, the spectator tent on the open field will be used for open handlers to be spaced farther apart. Pop-up tents will be available to handlers who wish to sit apart from others.
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The 2021 Sheepdog Finals Committee and USBCHA will continue to monitor the situation as the trial approaches.
