COVID-19 Stage 5 Guidelines and Winter Meeting

Austin has moved to Stage 5 COVID-19 risk-based guidelines. As always, it is our goal to provide a safe working environment for our team, as outlined in our updated Infectious Disease Control Policy. The policy can always be found in the Key Resources section of the Bulletin site.

As provided in the policy, a move to Stage 5 provides that staff who do not have job duties that are essential to be performed onsite or cannot be performed effectively or efficiently in a remote environment should work remotely, effective immediately. Each us of should consult with our immediate supervisor to determine the extent to which the duties or functions of our positions are best performed in the office versus remotely.

To be clear, those with a desire and a comfort level to work from the office are able to do so. The office will be closed (doors locked) to the public but staff will be allowed to work from the building. Our enhanced health and safety protocols in the office remain in place, including:

• Required masking at all times when not in your own workspace;

• Daily sanitizing wipe downs of high-touch surfaces;

• Hand sanitizers and wipes throughout the building;

• Nightly enhanced, deep cleaning by the cleaning crew;

• Air purification technology in the HVAC system; and more.

Moving as many staff whose job duties allow it to a remote status enhances the safety of the building further for those who will still be here.

Please keep in mind the importance of timely submission of invoices, expense reports, etc. Make provisions to ensure that mail is received or picked up regularly and processed.

For those going fully remote, if you need assistance from IT to set up equipment, please reach out to them in advance by sending an email to helpdesk@texasrealtors.com. Please do this as soon as possible as there will be many who need assistance and they need to be able to manage the high demand, and have some patience.

Please let me know if you have any questions on this, outside of working with your supervisor to determine applicability.

As was mentioned, the Infectious Disease Control Policy has been updated with some key features:

• Updates for consistency with CDC recommendations;

• Guidance chart was updated to clarify that major events will be held in-person in Stage 5. This relates specifically to major meetings like Winter Meeting, Conference, and GA Orientation/BOLC;

• Guidance chart was updated to allow travel and meeting attendance for those who are not vaccinated provided that a negative COVID test is produced within 72 hours of attendance at an event or meeting; and

• A new chart provides guidance for protocols when someone tests positive or is exposed to someone with COVID-19.

As mentioned, Winter Meeting will proceed as an in-person event regardless of the city’s COVID-19 risk stage. Enhanced health and safety protocols will be in place for the meeting that uniformly apply to both members and Texas REALTORS® staff. The following information is being sent currently to members who have registered.

WINTER MEETING SAFETY UPDATE

Texas REALTORS® is committed to making Winter Meeting a safe, in-person event. To protect everyone’s health and provide peace of mind, the following protocols will be strictly enforced:

• All attendees must show proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test administered within 72 hours of attendance.

• Details for uploading your proof of vaccination or negative test will be distributed to attendees via email soon.

• All attendees, guests, and staff are required to wear a mask in all Texas REALTORS® event spaces when not actively eating or drinking.

To make changes to your Winter Meeting registration, visit www.texasrealestate.com/wintermeeting. To adjust your hotel reservation, contact registrations@texasrealtors.com.

The City of Austin is currently in Stage 5 for COVID-19 risk. To read more about the recommended protocols for all levels, please visit: https://www.austintexas.gov/page/covid-19-risk-based-guidelines.

We have already contracted with a third-party to enforce health protocol compliance on our behalf, so staff will not be tasked with enforcement and we can move forward with as safe an event as possible for all.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments and thank you for your teamwork and flexibility through these challenging times.