Since 2020, Cultural Vistas has successfully implemented in-person exchange programs that have allowed participants and stakeholders to minimize the risk of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A large part of the ability to resume these programs despite the global pandemic has been due to the prevalence of vaccinations against the virus. The health and safety of our participants, stakeholders, and partners are of paramount concern to Cultural Vistas.
As we continue to lead programs that require the mobility of individuals and groups across borders, the feasibility of administering each program and each component within that program will be assessed based on data forecasting the conditions and available support in-country. Factors such as housing, transportation, travel restrictions, ability to participate in cultural activities, medical support, and modality of program during the COVID pandemic will be considered multiple times before a program begins. Frequent communication about changing conditions will be provided to participants and partners before and during programs.
Beginning March 1, 2022, Cultural Vistas has applied a policy across our program activities that requires new participants to be fully vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus with one of the vaccines approved by the national and local health authority in the country or countries in which they are completing their Cultural Vistas program or event. This requirement must be fulfilled in order to become a participant in our programs or take part in our events, and the status must be maintained throughout the program activities. Depending on health authority vaccination recommendations at the time the program is scheduled to begin, this requirement may be expanded to include a booster vaccination prior to or during travel. Although COVID testing may be required for travel to the destination country or to attend certain events within a larger program, a negative test will not suffice as a replacement for a full vaccination. Proof of recovery from SARS-CoV-2 may suffice as a replacement for maintaining status as being fully vaccinated throughout the program or event if this proof of recovery is accepted by the national and local health authority in the country or countries in which the Cultural Vistas program activities are taking place.
Any Cultural Vistas program exempted from this policy, due to the wishes of the program sponsors, will be indicated as such on its individual program webpage.
POLICY REGARDING SARS-COV-2 FOR CULTURAL VISTAS PARTICIPANTS
Cultural Vistas takes the health and safety of our participants and program stakeholders very seriously. Our organization views it as our responsibility to work towards ending the pandemic by ensuring that our participants, staff, and partners do all that they can minimize the risk for all involved in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.