At their July Directors Meeting, the USBCHA approved the following rule changes pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. These rule changes are effective immediately and until further notice:
PART II a: INTERIM RULES PERTAINING TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC (Adopted July 8, 2020. Interim rules have been extended through May 31, 2021 by a majority vote of the USBCHA Board of Directors.)
A. SANCTIONED TRIALS: These rules and regulations apply only to USBCHA sanctioned trials and approved events.
- Trial hosts, workers and participants are required to follow local rules and regulations regarding gathering size limitations, travel restrictions, quarantine requirements of persons entering a state, province or region, and any other local requirements in effect at the time of the event.
- Trial hosts must provide handlers a list of safety protocols they intend to follow for the trial at the time entries open.
- Trial hosts are required to refund entry fees of any handler that has any symptoms consistent with, or believes that they may have contracted COVID-19, or been exposed to COVID-19 up until the trial begins. [While interim rules pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic are in effect, USBCHA will reimburse trial hosts for refunds of sanctioned class entry fees (Open and Nursery) made to handlers who withdraw within 14 days of a trial’s start date due to COVID-19 symptoms or suspected exposure to COVID-19].