2022 COVID Protocols

Re: MIST COVID Rules - Vaccine, Mask Mandates

Assalamu Alaykum - peace be upon you,

The first priority of MIST is the health and safety of its competitors and participants. In the midst of the pandemic, we are announcing the creation of a Medical Advisory Board and several new protocols developed by it to safeguard the wellness of all who attend our tournaments. 

First, MIST will require vaccination against COVID-19 of all participants who attend our in-person events. This includes competitors, coaches, guests, judges, speakers, volunteers, and organizers. All participants will be required to show proof of vaccination upon registering in-person at MIST. A physical vaccination card or a photo of one, along with matching ID, are acceptable proof. Individuals must be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to the start of the tournament to be attended. This means receiving two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. MIST Toronto participants may receive two shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Booster shots are recommended, but not currently required. Medical exemptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and supporting documentation must be received via email at least four weeks in advance of the tournament to be attended. 

Second, MIST will require masking in all indoor spaces by all participants. If competitors do not wear masks during competitions, they will be automatically disqualified. If a school is consistently found to be breaking this rule, the entire team may be disqualified from any events they are participating in. For sports competitions, MIST will defer to the guidelines issued by local health authorities at the time of the event - this may result in restricting spectators, requiring mask-wearing even by athletes, and/or requiring a negative COVID-19 test prior to entry. Competitors may temporarily remove their masks indoors while eating, drinking, speaking or performing during an individual competition, or while inside their hotel room (for those teams which travel long distances to attend MIST).

Third, MIST will refund any participant who cannot attend a tournament due to COVID-19 symptoms or vaccine side effects. We will refund your full registration fee, minus the credit card processing fee of about 3%. We will also refund participants of any tournaments which must be cancelled due to local spikes in cases or venue restrictions. To request a refund, please contact your local region.

Fourth, MIST will require a daily health check on the part of all participants. Participants will be asked if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms prior to the start of each day’s events. Coaches will be responsible for ensuring their competitors complete the health check, which will be provided in advance of each tournament.

These rules may change at any time, so we encourage you to regularly check getmistified.com/covid for the latest updates. The final rules for each tournament will be released five days prior to its start. The members of our Medical Advisory Board, as well as their credentials, are on our website as well. If you have any questions, please email us back.

Asad Ansari
National Executive Director
MIST

MIST has established a Medical Advisory Board to advise us on best practices relating to the health and safety of our competitors. Its membership includes:

  • Samah Mohamed, Pharm.D.: Dr. Mohamed graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Pharmacy in 2018. She currently works in a retail pharmacy, administering COVID-19 vaccinations and tests, and educating patients on the safety and efficacy of vaccination. She was formerly the Regional Director of MIST Richmond, is currently MIST’s National Public Relations Director, and is well-versed in all aspects of MIST.

  • Uzma Ansari, M.S.: Uzma is a Biologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Her work primarily focuses on surveillance of multi-drug resistant organisms in the United States. During her 14-year career in public health she has also deployed to several emergency response activities, including H1N1, Zika Virus and most recently COVID-19 emerging variant surveillance. She graduated from Georgia State University with an M.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology in 2008.

  • Sarah Chaudhry, M.D., M.P.H.: Dr. Chaudhry graduated from Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine in 2015 and currently works in private practice as a pediatrician. She treats children & teenagers and administers COVID-19 vaccinations and tests in clinic daily. Dr. Chaudhry also has a Masters in Public Health from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

MIST National