COVID UPDATE

Posted on By Amber Suttmiller

LAST UPDATE: 8/10/2021

Masks:

All Employees, Volunteers, Teens, AmeriCorps must wear a mask when you are indoors and cannot maintain proper social distancing guidelines, regardless of vaccination status. This mirrors the current CDC guidelines, and will stay in place until further notice.  All specific departmental protocols remain in effect.

Please make sure you are following these guidelines at all times while on Zoo grounds.  The Zoo will highly encourage guests to wear masks in indoor facilities where social distance cannot be maintained. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me any time.

* Although our feline friend in the photo looks very protected, I don’t recommend covering your whole face!  That being said, please make sure you are wearing your mask correctly and covering your nose and mouth.

COVID Vaccinations:

All Employees, Volunteers, Teens, Americorps Members are asked to send in Visual Proof of Vaccination to our HR Team.  The Information will be collected via a Secure Google Survey, the information will only be viewed by the HR Team.  It will not be stored as part of any Employee File.  The image of the Vaccination Card will be deleted once it is verified.
Additional Clarification:
1.  CZBG is NOT Mandating that Employees, Volunteers, Americorps, Teens receive the Vaccine.
2.  Although sharing your Proof of Vaccination through our secure form is encouraged, CZBG is NOT Mandating that Vaccinated Employees, Volunteers, Americorps, Teens send in photographic Proof of Vaccination.  If you choose NOT to send in Proof of Vaccination, you will need to follow the guidelines in place for an unvaccinated individual.
So WHY are we asking for Proof of Vaccination?   
     What we are doing, based on recommendations from several sources, is going the next step from a general survey to a more specific and accurate detailing of who is vaccinated.  This targeted approach will help provide clarity on our numbers as COVID continues to evolve over the coming months/year, and help us proactively plan for potential impacts/changes to guidelines and recommendations for our Zoo family.   
How will sending in Proof of Vaccination benefit you?
     The Guidelines, Procedures and Protocols are always changing, even if guidelines look like same at this time, despite vaccination status, it may not stay that way indefinitely.  At this point the CZBG Protocol for individuals following an exposure to COVID-19 is different for vaccinated individuals and unvaccinated individuals.   As a vaccinated individual you are able to bypass the mandatory 10-Day Self-quarantine and makes it possible to safely get back on Zoo grounds at an earlier date. 
     Having a proven record of vaccinations from our staff and volunteers will help us to ensure that we are putting the correct protocols in place. Also, it reassures the admin team of the severity of the exposure and impact on daily zoo operations.   
Thank you in advance for your understanding, let me know if you have any questions.