FAQs

Pre-Arrival Testing

Fully vaccinated staff or volunteers arriving on program will be asked to provide proof of a negative test. Whilst a PCR test is preferred, Rapid tests are also accepted as long as the test result is identifiable as having been taken by the individual. Individuals will show the proof of their negative test to the staff member(s) meeting them on arrival.

The primary purpose of this test is to show the individual was travelling responsibly. The pre-arrival test does not suggest the person may not have been infected at any point since the test was taken. 

Ideally, the test will have been taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival, but due to extended transit times, some programs will need an extended window in order to give individuals enough time to receive their result before travel.

Arrival Testing

All arrivals will also be tested on arrival at base using our own rapid tests. On providing a negative result, individuals will be approved to join the program, but should expect to continue to be tested regularly using rapid tests.

If an individual shows any symptoms of COVID-19, or tests positive on any form of test, the team should follow the response protocols including confirmation through a PCR test. 

Contingency Planning

It is possible that through no fault of their own, an individual's test result has been delayed and they have not received it by the time they arrive. Further, it is possible that an individual tests positive in their arrival test, despite testing negative on their pre-arrival test. 

We must still uphold our duty of care to that individual, whilst not placing others at risk. Each Program should have a contingency plan in place to quickly isolate the individual and arrange PCR testing. This same plan should be used for individuals who develop symptoms or are confirmed cases. Volunteers should not be turned away for a positive test. 

Further controls remain available to the program teams should they deem them necessary. They will be supported in finding the right solution by the off-program Ops team, as well as Dir. HSS.

Further controls may include (but are not limited to):

• Reimplementation of restrictions on external interactions (i.e. local communities, local workers);

• Tighter controls on what individuals can do in their free time (e.g. not going to busy, indoor bars);

• Advise use of private transport only, rather than public transport;

• Stricter rules regarding program arrivals / breaks;

• Use of cohorts / minimum time commitments;

• The use of heightened awareness protocols to provide a phased arrival to program;

• Increased testing schedule, whether on arrival or as a regular precaution;

• Short-term use of bubble systems, quarantine periods;

• etc.

We are not able to reliably verify peoples vaccination status. This is a challenge as there is no universally accepted way of recording and reporting an individual’s vaccination status. Due to this lack of standards, fake vaccine documentation is readily available and therefore our control could be easily compromised. It is made clear in pre-booking and pre-arrival communications that we require everyone to be fully vaccinated and that we may ask for proof at any time. We have chosen to trust that people will do the right thing and follow these requirements - again accepting that it is easy to avoid detection - even if we did verify documentation. 

When there is a standardised way to verify a person's vaccination status, we will review and update this protocol.

The process to monitor the gating factors, undertake detailed assessments and guide the decision making process can be seen here. 

All Hands And Hearts is unable to account for or make any special accommodation in response to the travel restrictions of individual countries. Prospective volunteers should review the local regulations that apply to them and comply with the advice.