| To our Scouting Family,
The Boy Scouts of America continues to carefully monitor the rapidly evolving situation regarding COVID-19. As Scouts, volunteers and employees, helping our communities in times of need is foundational to who we are. It is now time for us to each do our part to minimize the impact of the disease, especially since health authorities underscore that the spread of the coronavirus can be slowed down, which will save lives and avoid overwhelming our local healthcare infrastructures. As is our practice in Scouting, our efforts are focused on preparation and responsiveness guided by official health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization. Remaining vigilant in hand hygiene and social distancing are some of the most important practices, especially in communities where there is confirmed community spread of the virus. The CDC offers helpful aids to guide these efforts, including: Since the impact of the virus varies greatly by community, each council is working closely with their local health department to evaluate the situation and make decisions in the best interest of their members, volunteers, and employees. Please refer questions about local events, meetings, and activities to your council, as they are best positioned to provide those answers. We are taking similar steps as a national organization as we evaluate how to best navigate the current situation with safety being our top priority. We are currently evaluating critical events and travel through the next six weeks, and we will continue to evaluate the situation and update you about any decisions impacting future events, including the National Annual Meeting and activities at our high adventure bases. Please know that the organization puts the health and safety of our members, volunteers, and employees first, and all organizational decisions concerning COVID-19 will continue to be made with that commitment top of mind. Yours in Scouting, |
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