OUR HEALTH, SAFETY AND CLEANING PROTOCOLS
Historic Oakland places your safety and, the safety of all staff and service professionals, as our primary mission. We want everyone to enjoy their event and have the peace of mind in knowing that we are doing everything we can to minimize the risk of contracting any disease or virus will visiting Historic Oakland.
We have put in to place the following health and safety guidelines for each and every event held at our historic venue. These guidelines follow those recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control’s website.
GUESTS, STAFF AND SERVICE PROFESSIONALS/VENDORS HEALTH
Surfaces and Contact Points
All surfaces and touch points are cleaned on a regular basis before and after each event using hospital-grade disinfectants and cleaning protocols recommended by the CDC, the State of Maryland, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and, WHO (World Health Organization). Special attention is paid to sanitizing door handles, railings, security keypads and common high trafficked spaces/surfaces in the building on all floors.
Guest Contact
CDC and WHO guidance indicates that person-to-person contact or “close proximity” are the primary ways COVID-19 spreads through aerosols and droplets. To help prevent risk of transmission in this way, Historic Oakland implemented the following safety protocols:
Placed signage in the Main Foyer reminding guests to maintain physical distancing of at least six feet
Placed hand-sanitizing stations at the Main Entrance to use prior to touring/entering the Manor
All guests over the age of 5 are required to wear a mask inside the facility, except when eating or drinking
For use of the exterior of the building, gardens, patios and parking lots, masks are ALSO required of all guests, staff, and vendors when 6-foot social distancing requirements cannot be adhered to.
Oakland staff are always required to wear a mask.
All food and beverage vendors, servers, and/or wait staff are always required to wear a mask and gloves.
New portable air filtration systems were purchased for use in all events. The units are certified to filter viruses, gases, and odors and, eliminate at least 99.5% of all particles down to 0.003 microns – the smallest particles that exist. These HyperHEPA systems use only safe, proven, mechanical filtration technology, without generating dangerous ions, ozone, or UV.
Staff and Service Professional Arrival to Historic Oakland
Staff and service professionals are monitored for pre-existing symptoms of Corona Virus. Anyone with a fever at 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or above is directed to leave the premises and seek medical attention.
Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer dispensers are placed at key guest, staff and service professional entrances and contact areas such as main entrances, and rest rooms.
Public Area Signage
Health and hygiene safety reminders are posted throughout Historic Oakland.
Back-of-the-House Signage
Signage is posted throughout Historic Oakland reminding service professionals of the proper way to wash hands, clean surfaces, social distance and how to avoid touching their faces.
SERVICE PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Vendors, Food and Bar Service Vendors, servers, and/or wait staff are required to provide their own personal protective supplies. Masks and gloves are always required by all service professionals.
No self-serve buffets or food stations are permitted.
Buffets are only permitted if the food is served by a professional server wearing gloves and a mask, not by individual guests.
Cafeteria-style food and beverage service are permitted whereby a caterer/server with mask and gloves serves the guest AND there is an appropriate barrier between the server and guest. Barrier could include tables, sneeze/cough guards or other equipment that provides appropriate protection.
Cake must be plated and served by a professional server wearing gloves and a mask, not by individual guests.
No bar service with guests standing in line to get a drink is permitted. If bar service is requested, the bartender is required to bring the drinks to the guests.
Frequent hand washing with soap is encouraged for at least 20 seconds or use of hand sanitizer.
CLEANING PRODUCTS AND PROTOCOLS
Historic Oakland’s cleaning service uses cleaning products and protocols which meet CDC and EPA guidelines. These products and protocols are approved for use and effective against viruses, bacteria and other airborne and blood borne pathogens. Cleaning occurs before and after each event throughout the entire Manor including both inside and outside with the focus on high contact areas, e.g., door handles, tables, chairs, and railings.
MEETING AND EVENT SETUPS
Meeting and banquet set-up arrangements allow for physical distancing between guests in all meetings and events, based on CDC recommendations. Event capacities are managed for each room in the Manor and cover the total attendance of all staff, guests and vendors that are in the room and/or manor at any one time. Staff strictly adhere to all table and chair setups to ensure that social distancing is always maintained for the duration of the event.
All protocols and procedures are subject to change at any time based on the State of Maryland Governor’s and/or Howard County Executive’s orders at the time of the event.
