You can expect the following COVID-19 protocol while on any of our programs or affiliated programs the summer of 2022:
The projects are only open to participants who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and, when applicable, have received their boosters.
In case a project participant gets ill with suspicion of COVID-19, there are several testing locations nearby, several of the doctors at the local health clinic speak English, and the town of Redondo has a robust COVID-19 protocol in place. Our projects follow the Portuguese Ministry of Health and the Public Health Service’s guidelines regarding isolation, health management, and recovery. We closely monitor these guidelines and adjust our protocol accordingly, and will assist our participants in any way we can.
The projects are only open to participants who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and, when applicable, have received their boosters.
- Mandatory COVID-19 testing before the project commences.
- For US travelers going to Portugal, a PCR or an antigen test is necessary to even get on the plane. If you travel from Europe/a country that does not have this testing protocol in place for travel to Portugal, we still ask that you test before joining the crew on arrival day. There is a testing location conveniently located at LIS airport. The cost of this test is the participant’s own responsibility.
- We will take US travelers to an approved testing location the day before departure: the cost of this test is the participant’s own responsibility.
- At present, the US requires an antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure for travelers returning to the US, or a PCR test taken within 72 hours. These tests, with appropriate paperwork for travel, can be obtained in numerous locations in Portugal. If a participant does not plan to return to the US at the immediate end of the project, we are happy to provide directions for where and how to get the appropriate test.
- Living in a bubble..
- After arrival, none of the travel you do on these projects will be done via public transportation.
- You will live in a house only available to project members. No one outside the project has access to this house, and there are no doorways/hallways shared with non-affiliated properties.
- Allowing outsiders into this bubble is grounds for immediate dismissal from the project.
- Food will be delivered to the house.
- Taking precautions to minimize exposure by social distancing and wearing masks.
- We ask that all participants please wear their masks consistently while in transit to minimize risk of infection. This includes while at the airport.
- Portugal does not require masking in public spaces but we strongly encourage all our participants to bring a stack of KN95 masks (or surgical masks, depending on what's available) and request that you use these whenever you are near/within 6 feet of non-project members. This includes stopping by the grocery store for an afternoon ice cream. Please be careful and take care of yourselves: the pandemic is not over.
- Project travel will only be to locations that are deemed safe such as archaeological sites outdoors. There will be no travel to densely populated areas or sites where social distancing is not possible.
In case a project participant gets ill with suspicion of COVID-19, there are several testing locations nearby, several of the doctors at the local health clinic speak English, and the town of Redondo has a robust COVID-19 protocol in place. Our projects follow the Portuguese Ministry of Health and the Public Health Service’s guidelines regarding isolation, health management, and recovery. We closely monitor these guidelines and adjust our protocol accordingly, and will assist our participants in any way we can.
