COVID Safety

The Texas Open is undertaking the following COVID-19 prevention measures:

·      Participating schools are strongly discouraged from bringing students displaying symptoms of the flu or COVID-19 to campus. Participating schools will be asked to remove students displaying flu or COVID-19 symptoms from competition areas/spaces.

·      Participants are strongly encouraged to receive their COVID-19 vaccination booster shot at least two weeks prior to the tournament.

·      Masks will be available on-site to those who need them. The tournament will also do its best to provide ample sanitizing products to reduce germ spread.

·      Wearing of masks is strongly encouraged at all times. We will occupy general-use classroom spaces in several buildings across campus. There will be ample room for students to prepare for their competitions while maintaining social distancing.

·      Weather permitting, speaker awards for debate will be announced Sunday on the ground floor of the UTC.

·      Awards for non-advancing students in elimination rounds will be available for pickup immediately upon posting of break lists and within debate elimination rounds. The final awards ceremony for IE events and sweepstakes will be limited to students appearing in those rounds and their coaches, but will also be webcast live with the link posted at Tabroom.com. Schools who choose to depart early (before awards distribution) may contact us to make arrangements for shipping after the tournament is completed.

The following is an abridged version of the University’s COVID-19 policy:

*Face masks are strongly recommended inside university buildings for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, except when alone in a private office or single-occupant cubicle.

*For individuals who live with individuals who are immunocompromised, or who have a condition which places them at high risk for severe illness with COVID-19, masking and social distancing are strongly recommended, regardless of vaccination status, inside university buildings.

-Wearing an N95/KN95 may be preferred in certain circumstances related to the working/learning environment and inherent health risks of the individual.

-When you cannot wear a mask, (e.g., when eating at a dining hall) maintain social distancing.

*When wearing a mask:

-Make sure your recommended protective face mask covers your nose and mouth.

-Take care when putting on and taking off your recommended protective face mask to avoid contamination of hands and face.

-If you wear a cloth face mask, wash it frequently.

-COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible individuals ages 12 and up is encouraged.