MGHA COVID-19 Protocols
Last updated: 2022-03-23
Vaccination Policy
Quick summary: We require a COVID-19 vaccine and booster. If you’re unvaccinated due to a medical exemption, contact the board.
- All players are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. To be fully vaccinated, you must have a full schedule of the initial dose and brand plus booster information, and present verifiable evidence of vaccination (vaccine card).
- If you are unvaccinated, you must have a medical exemption. No other exemptions from vaccination are permitted for players in the MGHA. If you have a medical exemption, contact the Board to let us know that you have a medical reason that prohibits you from receiving the vaccine.
- For those who fall into this category, you are required to get a COVID test weekly, as close to Sunday as possible (dependent on turnaround time of the test), and send your test result to covid@madisongayhockey.org. If your test is negative, you’re good to play! If it’s positive, you’re symptomatic, or you do not submit a test, you are not permitted to return to the rink or league play until you receive a negative test.
MGHA Policy on Masking for 2021-22 Season
Quick summary: Wear a mask indoors until further notice, recommended/optional on-ice.
- Dane County Face Covering Emergency Order #7 expired 3/1/22.
- Starting after the March 13th games, we will update our mask requirement to masks recommended ON-ICE ONLY. This is similar to the UW-Madison, MMSD, and MSCR timelines. If you need or want to keep your mask on-ice after March 13th, please do so.
- We will keep masks on in the locker room and lobby areas and in the Eagle’s Nest when not eating or drinking. Locker rooms are enclosed and have 10-15 of us in close proximity. The lobby can get crowded and people have to move through it to enter and exit the building. Our most vulnerable players do not have a choice of avoiding the lobby like they do for the Eagle’s Nest.
- Disposable masks will be available in lobby until supplies run out. Once supplies are exhausted, if there is still significant demand, the league will purchase more masks in bulk.
- We will be carefully watching the PHMDC Covid dashboard and hopefully watching cases continue to decline. We will reconsider this policy if there is a steep increase in cases and cases go back over 100 per week (that is the line where PHMDC put the mask mandate in place last summer).
Season Refund Policy
Quick summary: Due to the continuing pandemic, MGHA will institute a more adaptable refund policy for the 2021-22 season.
- Anyone requesting a deposit and/or league fee refund before 10/1/21 will receive a full refund.
- Anyone requesting a refund after 10/1/21 will receive a pro-rated refund for their unused ice time, minus the upcoming session, minus PayPal fees.
- MGHA incurs PayPal fees with every payment. Members requesting a refund after 10/1/21 can opt to apply that pro-rated refund to next year’s fees, and not have PayPal fees deducted.
- Refund requests should go to board@madisongayhockey.org
Symptom Checker
Quick summary: If you are experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19, please stay home. Let your captain know so they can get a sub. We strongly recommend getting tested regularly and especially if experiencing any symptoms on this list.
- Before each game or session, review the symptoms located here and identify if you are experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19.
- If you are experiencing symptoms, please stay home. We strongly recommend you get tested. There are a variety of testing options available in the community here in Dane County.
Positive COVID Exposure Protocol
Quick summary: Reporting positive tests is a way we keep our community safer. We strongly recommend individuals get tested after an exposure, which we will communicate to you once reported.
- We require that any positive COVID test be reported to COVID@madisongayhockey.org. This email will only be accessible to members of the board, and positive tests will be kept anonymous.
- Based on CDC and WI Covid Connect guidelines, MGHA members who have tested positive for Covid-19 can return to regular league games and functions when
- At least 5 days have passed since you first had symptoms (or you have been symptom free but got tested due to potential exposure) AND
- You have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using medicine that reduced fevers AND
- Your other symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours
Note – once you have tested positive for Covid-19, a negative test result is NOT required. This is because both rapid antigen and PCR tests can return positive many weeks after an individual has recovered and is not contagious. Policy subject to change as national/state/local guidelines are updated. For reference, see PHMDC guidelines. - We are recommending all players enable exposure notifications from WI DHS on their phones. We believe this is the easiest and most effective way to anonymously share potential exposure information across the league. The board will also notify both teams that played with the COVID-positive player most recently that a player in their last game tested positive. Following CDC guidelines for vaccinated individuals, all players on both teams, and other potentially exposed individuals are strongly encouraged to:
- Get a COVID test 3-5 days after the exposure
- Continue wearing a mask indoors for 14 days, or until a negative test is confirmed