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Press Release - Boston Marathon - 9/2/21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

           B.A.A. Announces Participant Health & Safety Policies 
                         for 125th Boston Marathon

BOSTON-The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced that entrants 
in the 125th Boston Marathon, scheduled for Monday, October 11, will need 
to either provide proof of vaccination or produce a negative COVID-19 test 
in order to participate in the fall race. It is strongly recommended that 
all entrants, staff, and volunteers are vaccinated. Masks will not be 
required while running the 26.2-mile course, but will be enforced on 
participant transportation and in other areas in accordance with local 
guidelines.

Prior to bib number pick-up, Boston Marathon participants will be required 
to either produce proof of a complete vaccination series of a World Health 
Organization-certified vaccine or produce a negative COVID-19 test, which 
will be administered on site in a Boston Marathon medical tent. Vaccine 
verification will occur Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10 in 
coordination with the Boston Marathon Expo hours. Participants may bring an 
original paper copy, digital copy, photocopy, or photo of their vaccination 
proof.

The B.A.A. will work with a third-party testing provider for test 
administration and results tracking. Testing will begin no earlier than 72 
hours prior to participant start times on Monday, October 11. Exact hours, 
locations, and additional details will be communicated directly to all 
participants. Tested participants will not receive immediate access to 
enter the Boston Marathon Expo for bib number pick-up and will be required 
to wait for confirmation of test results. The fastest path to pick up 
numbers for the 125th Boston Marathon is being fully vaccinated.

Upon successful vaccination verification or negative COVID-19 test, 
participants will receive a bracelet which must be worn at all times in 
order to access bib number pick-up areas and participant transportation 
areas on race day. The bracelet must also be displayed to receive a unicorn 
finisher's medal on Boylston Street. Boston Marathon volunteers and 
officials will follow a similar process, and will receive additional 
information in the coming weeks. All Boston Marathon medical volunteers 
will be fully vaccinated. Athletes in the John Hancock Professional Athlete 
Field will follow enhanced health and safety procedures, including regular 
testing over race weekend.

WHAT IF A PARTICIPANT TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19?

Any participant who tests positive for COVID-19 prior to starting the race 
will not be allowed to participate in the event and will be refunded their 
entry fee. Participants will not be refunded the one-time $25.00 USD fee 
charged at the point of registration to support COVID-19 mitigation 
efforts, including testing. Participants will not be able to defer their 
entry to a future year, but will not have the missed race count against any 
active consecutive finish streaks.

All test results will be reported by the third-party provider to the public 
health authority of the jurisdiction where the person resides. The B.A.A. 
will work to ensure that all cases are traced and tracked to prevent any 
additional spread due to exposure at marathon related events or programs. 
Additionally, all participants will receive an email after race day asking 
to self-report if exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19. Any participant who 
tests positive for COVID-19 must be prepared to isolate in accordance with 
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' guidance and assume all associated fees, 
including medical expenses and fees associated with isolating and travel. 
All participants and spectators are strongly encouraged to get tested in 
advance of traveling to Boston and must have a plan for isolation in the 
event of a positive COVID-19 test. Unvaccinated people must also have a 
plan to self-quarantine following an exposure to a COVID-19 positive 
person.

Any participant, volunteer, or spectator exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 
should stay home.

WHAT IS THE MASK POLICY LEADING UP TO AND ON BOSTON MARATHON RACE DAY?

Participants must wear masks on race-day buses, including those 
transporting athletes from Boston to Hopkinton pre-race and from Boston to 
Hopkinton post-race. In accordance with the Boston Public Health 
Commission's August 20, 2021 indoor mask mandate for the City of Boston, 
masks must be worn in indoor public settings including within the Boston 
Marathon Expo.

Athletes will not be required to wear masks while participating in the 
Boston Marathon, but masks will be made available at the finish for any 
athlete who elects to wear one upon finishing the race. Masks will be 
required, and provided, in all medical tents along the route. Volunteers 
assigned to roles with direct interaction or in close proximity with 
athletes will be required to wear masks, including all medical volunteers. 
Additional personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided to 
volunteers based upon assignment.

Mask policies will be reviewed on a regular basis and updated in accordance 
with local guidance leading up to the October 11th race. On July 30, 2021, 
the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued an advisory stating 
masks should be worn indoors by unvaccinated adults, fully vaccinated 
individuals with a weakened immune system, individuals with an increased 
risk for severe disease, and by fully vaccinated individuals whose 
households include members with a weakened immune system.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD PARTICIPANTS, SPECTATORS, AND VOLUNTEERS EXPECT?

The B.A.A. strongly encourages everyone to “Earn A PR” by practicing 
personal responsibility for the 125th Boston Marathon. From guests 
traveling with athletes to spectators cheering on participants, everyone is 
encouraged to take efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These 
efforts may include being fully vaccinated, getting tested for COVID-19 
prior to any travel, wearing a mask when you cannot socially distance over 
race week, refraining from kissing a stranger around the halfway mark of 
the Boston Marathon, and only using B.A.A. provided course nutrition in 
lieu of accepting hydration or food from spectators. Additionally, anyone 
who develops any symptoms must avoid public activity except for going to 
get a COVID-19 test.

In the coming weeks, athletes will receive more information on the rolling 
start procedure, bib number assignments, bus loading times in Boston, and 
transportation to the start. The 125th Boston Marathon mobile app-designed 
for athletes participating in the in-person and virtual races, as well as 
spectators-will launch in early September.

Earlier this year the B.A.A. announced additional mitigation efforts 
including a reduced field size, elimination of the pre-race Athletes' 
Village staging area, and a virtual race option. Since September 2020, the 
B.A.A. has been regularly convening a COVID-19 Medical & Event Operations 
Advisory Group to establish a framework to advise the B.A.A.'s leadership, 
board of directors, and staff how to safely resume the Boston Marathon and 
other large, in-person B.A.A. road races. The B.A.A. will continue to 
review and revise as necessary health and safety procedures leading up to 
and on race day.

                                     ###


 

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