Introduction

Capricon is a community of people who care about each other. No policy can ensure the health and safety of every member, but we want all of our members to be aware of how their actions can improve the health outcomes of all of our attendees. It is up to each individual member, in consultation with their health care providers, to determine appropriate precautions for their personal health circumstances such as masking, personal hygiene, personal boundaries, appropriate vaccinations, and whether their individual circumstances make attending such in-person events advisable.

All policies applicable to the City of Chicago and Cook County and State of Illinois will be enforced. We have chosen to add some stronger mitigation recommendations. We reserve the right to revise this policy to be more restrictive as dictated by new circumstances, but will not revise to a standard less restrictive than as originally published.

Summary of our policies

  1. Our social policy: be kind and cautious, and observe the Code of Conduct
  2. Illness/symptoms: do not attend Capricon if you have symptoms of a respiratory or contagious illness.
  3. Masking: We strongly recommend that members wear a mask in crowded convention spaces, especially when seated together in programming, performances, gaming and similar activity tables. Some specific events and time periods in certain spaces will be mask-required. While not mandated in most spaces, we encourage as many members as possible and able to be masked for their own health, but also especially for the health of others who need more protection. We ask all members to carry a mask with them and respect rules and signage.
  4. Vaccine policy: we do not check the vaccine status of our members.
  5. Ventilation: We will have Corsi-Rosenthal filtration (“C-R”) boxes in all non-ballroom program spaces.

Health and Safety Social Policy

We ask all attendees to be kind and cautious with regards to their fellow attendees’ health.

Ask first whenever encroaching on other peoples’ personal space, particularly if they are masked. Please ask about your fellow attendees comfort level, and if the people you are spending time with are wearing masks, please consider putting on your own mask. If you are asked to mask or move away, please share the space and do so without argument.

Shaming anyone for masking, or not masking, will not be tolerated. Note that some members are unable to mask due to their own health issues. Enforcement of this policy will be handled exclusively by official Capricon staff. Attendees should report issues and concerns to a staff member, and not confront other attendees.

Illness/Attendance Policy

Capricon requests that individuals with a contagious illness or unexplained respiratory symptoms stay home. While we understand that it is disappointing to miss out on our event, it is more important to protect your health as well as the health of your fellow attendees.

Accommodations to defer attendance to the next year will be made for those unfortunate enough to fall ill prior to or during the event.

Contact registration@capricon.org to arrange a transfer of your membership to next year, or leave your badge with a Registration desk or operations staff member if you must depart due to illness.

Masking Policy

It is always acceptable to wear a mask in any area (even when not required). Attendees should not confront, bother, or harass individuals who are following masking rules. Politely asking someone to wear or remove a mask once is not harassment; please do not make repeated requests in areas where it is not required.

Masks will be required in the following areas:

  1. During mask-required hours in the Art Show and Dealers Hall (currently the first hour the room is open to attendees on Friday and Saturday – please check signage)
  2. Any party with a ‘mask required’ sign at the door
  3. In any official workshop, table-based or event where the program runner (presenter, teacher, GM, etc) requests it.

Masks are not required but are especially strongly recommended for:

  1. Attendees in programming rooms, particularly those with theater-style seating. We consider these to be HIGH RISK areas due to close seating proximity and amount of time spent in the same space. Wearing a mask in these areas also helps protect presenters who may be unmasked for accessibility purposes

Masks are optional in any areas not listed above – including but not limited to:

  1. Program participants delivering program items. We recognize that masks can impact accessibility for those who are hearing impaired and that some people find it especially difficult to wear a mask while speaking.
  2. Social event spaces except as clearly posted.
  3. Public spaces connected to the convention.

In short, please carry a mask with you at all times (even if you are not usually wearing it) and put it on when requested by policy, signage or Capricon staff.

Vaccine Policy

We encourage our members to stay up-to-date on all available vaccinations for communicable diseases. The organization will not be verifying vaccination status.

Ventilation

We will have Corsi-Rosenthal (C-R) filtration boxes in all non-ballroom program spaces. If you would like to sponsor the construction of a C-R box for $75, please email chair@capricon.org. Sponsors will be identified on the box, in convention materials, and at Opening and Closing Ceremonies.