COVID-19 Policy for Awesome Games Done Quick 2024

Thank you for your interest in attending Awesome Games Done Quick 2024 (AGDQ 2024)! Games Done Quick is committed to the safety of its Staff, Runners and Attendees, and we will continue to monitor updates from the CDC, local, state, and federal agencies as well as our partners in regard to COVID-19. This page will be updated with information if changes occur between now and the start of AGDQ 2024.

Requirements

What are the COVID-19 safety requirements to attend AGDQ 2024?

  • Masks are recommended, but are only required for some specifically designated areas in the venue.
  • Masks Required:
    • Arcade
  • You must maintain good hygiene, including regular hand washing and proper sanitation.
  • If you appear to have flu-like symptoms, or are cohabitating with someone who has flu-like symptoms, you must relinquish your badge and will not be permitted back into the event.
  • You must be vaccinated for COVID-19. See the vaccination FAQ for more details.

Our requirements are based on CDC Guidance and on speaking with medical professionals about the changes in the COVID-19 landscape. However, we will be closely monitoring local, state and federal COVID-19 hospital admission levels and continuing with CDC guidance, will elevate this policy from Mask Recommended to Mask Required if by early December, levels rise to Medium or High admissions levels. We will also be closely following any shifts in CDC Guidance as we move into the winter season, and will re-assess the policy if there is a change.

What do I do if I feel sick?

To protect the health and safety of our attendees, Games Done Quick will be following CDC guidelines on isolation for those who exhibit flu-like symptoms, or cohabitate with someone who has flu-like symptoms. For those who feel sick during the event, urgent medical care is recommended and Games Done Quick will provide information on local medical resources to any attendee in need. In addition, any attendee who must isolate will be eligible for a partial refund due to being unable to attend the event.

What flu-like symptoms should I look out for?

  • Fever
  • Severe Cough
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Sore Throat
  • Chills/Shaking
  • Runny/Stuffy Nose

What does cohabitation mean?

Cohabitation means that you're sharing a room with someone for at least a night. This could be a hotel room, a rented house, or if you're local, your apartment or living space.

What do I do if I have flu-like symptoms, or cohabitate with someone who has flu-like symptoms?

First, immediately reach out to the GDQ Safety Team (safety@gamesdonequick.com), and let us know. We will answer any questions you have and provide additional guidance if necessary.

We recommend you take a COVID-19 Test. UPMC AnywhereCare (virtual urgent care) can be used to speak to a healthcare provider who can electronically order a COVID-19 test. Once the test is ordered, the nearest UPMC COVID-19 Test Site will be at UPMC Shadyside.

We will arrange a return of your badge to GDQ, and you will be unable to attend for the duration of the event.

If you would like to reclaim your badge, or the badge of a minor in your care after the event, you may do so by sending an email from the address associated with your Games Done Quick account to checkin@gamesdonequick.com.

If you are sick before the event, you will be eligible for a full refund. If you are sick during the event, you will be eligible for a partial refund. To request a refund please email management@gamesdonequick.com.

If you are a runner and your run has to be cancelled, the committee will accept a subsequent run submission of the same run for up to a year in the future.

What do I do if I was exposed to someone with flu-like symptoms but it was not by someone I am cohabitating with?

Vaccination FAQ

Vaccination Requirements

  • You must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This is defined as either a primary series of vaccinations and any booster, or as a primary series of vaccinations in which the final dose was administered after March 4, 2023. Vaccines must be authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization (a list is provided below).
  • You must be able to present proof of your COVID-19 vaccinations prior to arrival at the event (physical vaccine card or digital equivalent) and a government-issued photo ID. Each attendee must provide their own documentation, we will not accept documents on behalf of another attendee.
  • You must be at least 5 years of age to attend and attendees between the ages of 5 and 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in event areas. Please note, all attendees, regardless of age are subject to the above masking and vaccination policies and individuals under 5 years of age will not be allowed in marathon areas.

Additionally, we recommend attendees get the latest booster two weeks before the start of the event if possible, based on your personal medical/financial situation.

Are there any exemptions to the vaccination requirements?

For the safety of all in attendance, we require vaccinations for everyone. GDQ staff, volunteers, runners, charity representatives, and our partners will need to meet our requirements to enter our event space.

Please keep in mind that we are accepting a number of remote runners and volunteers, and the event will be streamed live, if you are unable to meet our requirements for attendance!

If you wish to request a vaccine medical exemption, or have an accessibility question, please contact covidquestions@gamesdonequick.com. Medical exemptions must be verified and approved prior to attending (no later than December 18, 2023). Those seeking medical exemptions will need to provide a signed medical exemption note by a licensed physician describing why an exemption is required. In order for the safety of all attending, those seeking exemptions must also produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 24 hours of check-in at the event. Furthermore, you will need to produce a new negative COVID-19 test each day of your attendance, no later than 12PM local time (EDT), to the check-in staff. You will be instructed via email prior to the event about which type of daily test we will require, as testing options are expected to change over time. You are responsible for locating and purchasing the necessary tests.

While we are required to accept this limited exemption, we strongly encourage you do not attend without the proper vaccinations, for your own safety.

Which vaccinations are currently accepted?

This list is current as of October 10, 2023. If new vaccines are approved, we will add them to this list. We will be accepting any combination of the following:

Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration

  • Moderna
  • J&J (Jansen)
  • Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty)
  • Novavax, Adjuvanted
  • Spikevax

Approved by the World Health Organization

  • Sinopharm / BBIBP
  • AstraZeneca / Oxford
  • Covaxin
  • Sinovac
  • Covishield
  • Janssen–Cilag International NV
  • SK Bioscience
  • CanSinoBIO

Other FAQ

What else is GDQ doing to maximize attendee safety?

COVID-19 safety extends beyond masks and vaccinations. In addition to the requirements for attendance, we will also be doing the following:

  • We will have a dedicated team whose responsibility will be to regularly sanitize contact areas of the event space. World9 Gaming will also be sanitizing their gaming hardware each time they receive a returned item.
  • The World9 Gaming staff will assist by ensuring the tournament space complies with our COVID-19 requirements, including sanitization.
  • N95 masks can be obtained by any attendee at checkin. One N95 mask will be provided per event date attended.
  • Hand sanitizer stations will be available in all event rooms.
  • The board game room will use UV Light Sanitizers to clean game pieces. Anyone bringing in a board game must have their game pieces cleaned when entering in the board game room. NOTE: UV Light may fade board game pieces.
  • Arcade Machine surfaces will be cleaned immediately after use.

What should I do if I submitted a run and no longer wish to attend?

Any runners who no longer wishes to attend the event for any reason should email committee@gamesdonequick.com for any availability changes. Games Done Quick will make every effort to accomodate these changes but swaps from onsite to online runs may not be possible due to scheduling and tech requirements. There will be no penalty for withdrawing a run due to not wishing to attend the event in person.

Miscellaneous Information

Please keep in mind that these precautions can only minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection and spread, they cannot eliminate it. Every person should balance their own health and risk factors before deciding whether to attend an event or large gathering.

Games Done Quick will continue to evaluate the pandemic's developments as we approach AGDQ 2024. Games Done Quick reserves the right to cancel, reschedule, or move to a virtual event if it becomes too unsafe to hold in-person. Refunds for attendance fees will be issued if the event is cancelled or moved online.

If you have any other questions about the COVID-19 policy information for AGDQ24, please send an email to
covidquestions@gamesdonequick.com. Thank you for your interest in our event!

Document last updated: October 10, 2023