Tijuana Ministry Trip 2022
COVID-19

Health and Safety

We want everyone who attends the Tijuana Ministry trip to feel safe and included. Your health and safety is of the utmost importance to us. We will be taking all precautions and applying COVID-19 safety measures for all volunteers. This includes:

• requiring proof of fully vaccinated status by July 10, 2022 

• Proof of a negative test < 48 hours prior to departure

• One negative test on Tues, July 19, while on-site in Tijuana

Individuals who cannot or choose not to abide by the above requirements will not be permitted to travel and, if already in Tijuana, they will be asked to return home at their own expense.

How do I submit proof of vaccination?

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required. Please make a photocopy of your vaccination card and submit it along with your registration papers or scan and email it to tjmissions@gmail.com.

Will all vaccinations be accepted and are there any restrictions around the type of vaccination certificate shown?

We will accept vaccines currently approved or authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson [J&J]/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines) as well as COVID-19 vaccines that have been listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (i.e. AstraZeneca/Oxford).

What does “fully vaccinated” mean?

As of today, you are fully vaccinated according to CDC guidelines:

• 2 weeks after a second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines 

• or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

These will be updated should the requirements of fully vaccinated status change.

What are the protocols for pre-trip COVID-19 testing?

We are requiring COVID-19 testing for all volunteers <48 hours prior to your day of departure (Thurs, July 14 for the advanced team or Sat, July 16 for the main team). Either a PCR or at-home Rapid test will be accepted. A cell phone image, print-out, time-stamped photo or medical proof of a negative test will all be accepted forms of proof.

Please bring this with you as you will be asked to show it, plus your proof of vaccination, in order to participate in the trip.

If someone has recently recovered from COVID (in the past three months) and provides proof of recent infection (positive test result via a doctor's note) is that also acceptable?

Yes, this is inline with CDC guidelines, as if someone has had COVID in the past three months it is not recommended that they test as some patients can continue to test positive even though they are not a continued infectious risk. A doctor’s note is required.

What if I show up without proof of vaccination and/or proof of a negative test < 48 hours prior to departure?

If you fail to provide either of the above, you will not be permitted to travel.

Will masks be required in Tijuana?

Masks will not be required but are highly encouraged, especially since we have no way to verify COVID-19 status of all those with whom we come into contact during our travel. We urge all volunteers to bring multiple KN95 masks and to wear them as much as possible during the trip.

Will there be onsite testing?

Yes. We will have at-home rapid tests available and ask each volunteer to test on Tuesday, July 19th and show proof of a negative test.

What happens if someone tests positive for COVID-19 onsite?

Anyone who tests positive for COVID in Tijuana will be asked to quarantine in a separate room for 5 days or until arrangements are made to leave Tijuana safely. Food and beverage can be delivered and left outside the door.  The volunteer may not leave their room at anytime unless there is an emergency requiring evacuation or if the volunteer is having a medical emergency.  Tijuana Leadership team will work with any person(s) who tests positive to coordinate safe transportation home for the person and others in their group.

Isolation can be discontinued at least 5 days after symptom onset (day 1 through day 5 after symptom onset, with day 0 being the first day of symptoms), and after resolution of fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and with improvement of other symptoms. These people should continue to properly wear a well-fitted mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10 after symptom onset) after the 5-day isolation period.

​
 

What about our hosts, partners, and families in Tijuana?

Through Father Jesse, our coordinator in Tijuana, we have asked that those with whom we will be working closely also comply with vaccination and health protocols. However, we do not have a process to verify or enforce this. This is why we urge volunteers to take personal precautions, such as wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer, and social-distancing, as much as possible.