COVID-19 POLICIES & PROTOCOLS

POLICY

Coronavirus is a threat to us all, no matter where we go or what we do, however, evidence suggests that outdoor activities may present a lower risk of virus transmission. Wilderness Patagonia will base its activities on the following principals:

SAFE

Course provision will be informed and guided by a public health assessment of risk . (Government advice through PHE, HPS etc.) 

LAWFUL 

We will adhere to government guidance and legal restrictions.

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE

We recognise that there must be a balance between economic growth and the welfare of local communities, society and the environment. Candidates, providers and their staff members are accountable for fulfilling their civic duty; the actions of an individual must benefit the whole of society.

EVIDENCE BASED

We will use the best available activity-specific evidence and analysis to guide our decision making.

CLEAR 

We will provide clarity to our candidates, our scheme providers and their staff to enable compliance, engagement, and accountability. 

REALISTIC

We will consider the viability and effectiveness of course delivery options through discussions with our scheme providers.

Activities will require a pragmatic and mutually agreed approach between clients and staff members. Some objectives may not be feasible. The dynamic nature of being in the patagonian landscapes means that there may be occasions when ideal Covid-19 Secure practice such as social distancing cannot be maintained, e.g. for short periods sharing a belay, to tranfer in 4WD, check a harness fitting or to deal with an immediate safety concern that takes priority.

The procedures we have implemented to minimise the risk of infection include:

• Declarations by all participants that they meet the Attendance Conditions (see below).
• Mutual agreement to notify between client and staff members if any person develops CoVID-19symptoms within 14 days of the end of the event.
• Observing the host regional guidance for social distancing where possible.
• Encouraging the frequent use of hand sanitiser including before and after the handing ofequipment.
• Minimising the shared handling of equipment to as low as reasonably practical.
• Clients providing their own equipment where possible (subject to a serviceability check forsafety equipment).
• Quarantining of Wilderness Patagonia equipment for 24 hours after use if it cannot bedisinfected safely (all equipment is cleaned before re-use but disinfectants cannot be used on some safety equipment).

Where CoVID-19 Secure practices are not fully possible, the measures we will implement to mitigate the risk of infection include:

• Minimising the time in which people are less than the recommended distance apart to as low as reasonably practical whilst ensuring other safety requirements are met.
• Use of face masks if practical. Face masks may not always be practical or safe (e.g when paddling kayak they would hinder the ability to communicate from a distance which is essential), in which case efforts will be made to face away if within the recommended social distance.

ATTENDANCE CONDITIONS

In addition to our standard Terms and Conditions, any participant of Wilderness Patagonia activities must meet the following conditions to attend, if you do not please notify us as soon as you can:

1 – You must follow your relevant home nation devolved administration guidance on Coronavirus (and also the guidance for the area of the activity if different), specifically that you will not travel to nor attend guiding/instruction with Wilderness Patagonia if you should be self-isolating according to national guidelines. Guidance on the specific symptoms and self-isolation measures are clearly available on the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Nation

2 – You must be able to answer ‘No’ to the following questions at the start time of your event:

• Do you have, or have you had in the previous 14 days, a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)?
• Do you have, or have you had in the previous 14 days, a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)?
• Do you have, or have you had in the previous 14 days, a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal?
• Are any of your household symptomatic of COVID 19 or have any of them been in the past 14 days?
• Are any of your household self-isolating or have any of them been in the past 14 days?
• To the best of your knowledge have you been in close contact (less than 2 meters apart for 15 minutes or more) with anyone else who is symptomatic of COVID 19 in the past 14 days?

3 – You must be able answer ‘Yes’ the following:

• Do you accept that your participation in the booked activity may increase your risk of exposure to infection with the virus relative to no-participation?
• Do you agree to inform your instructor should you develop any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 any time within 14 days of the end of the activity? The staff members undertakes to do the same.
• Please confirm that you will bring:

A small bottle of hand sanitizer.

A face mask or covering with you (if you feel it is required).If we are forced to cancel your activity at short notice for Coronavirus related reasons, please refer to our  booking terms and conditions