Blog

The following is a message from Columbia Association’s (CA) Director of Sport & Fitness Dan Burns:

We know that no decision you have been forced to make throughout this pandemic has been easy. We know because our CA team members have lived through it right alongside this community. It’s become clear that this difficult process is far from over.

CA has always been and continues to be committed to following local data, metrics and guidelines from county, state and national experts, particularly when it comes to the recent emergence of virus variants. Our team is in constant consultation with our medical director and the Department of Health, making necessary adjustments based on the most updated information and its impact on our immediate community.

Despite concerning news from other parts of the country, Howard County continues to lead Maryland with more than 80% of the eligible population fully vaccinated and more than 85% with at least one dose. The latest state data shows that 99.99% of fully vaccinated Marylanders are free from serious illness. This community has stepped up and is safer because of it.

We will keep asking questions. We will keep relying on facts. We will keep following the guidance set by the county and state. That means that at this time, fully vaccinated individuals have the option to remove their masks in CA facilities and open space. However, we continue to support and encourage the use of masks while indoors and will make adjustments to our policies as necessary based on guidance. This also means that we will not be implementing a vaccine requirement for our staff or members at this time. CA will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments if necessary, following the requirements laid out by the state and county.

Every person deserves to feel safe, healthy and comfortable in CA spaces, and masks will always be welcome without question or concern. We also encourage anyone who has not yet received a vaccine to do so. Scientifically speaking, it remains our best line of defense when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and its variants.

Our team remains hyper focused on the impact of this virus on our Columbia community and how our situation is different from others across the country. CA looks forward to providing more information through future events and outreach, continually working to be a steady presence in an ever-evolving world. 

We know you have a lot of tough decisions to make. We hope that you can confidently choose CA and know that we have the health of you and your family in mind whenever those tough decisions come our way. 

 

Dan Burns

CA Director of Sport & Fitness