ITI Update from Kyle.
Covid-19 Mitigation
Let’s address the elephant in the room at the outset, shall we? The pandemic has affected nearly everyone at some level and has changed the way we interact with each other. The good news is that the ITI has always provided lots of opportunities for social distancing, and the 2021 race will provide even more.
The vast majority of the race is held outside, where spacing is not an issue. For 2021, there will be several changes to the pre-race, checkpoint and post-race procedures, as those are the parts of the race when athletes may be in close proximity to each other and/or the public. More details will be forthcoming, but a few specifics include:
The pre-race party will not be held in 2021.
All athletes, staff and volunteers will be tested for COVID-19 the morning of their departure on the Iditarod Trail, and those tests must be negative before they are allowed to proceed. All athletes must agree to undergo periodic COVID-19 testing as required during the event.
Checkpoints to McGrath will adhere to strict mask mandates and maximum occupancy limits (first in-first out). Don't count on sleeping in the checkpoints, especially those early in the race, where groups of athletes have generally been closer together.
ITI trail teams will establish remote checkpoints beyond McGrath as required and will retrieve drop boxes from the post offices for the athletes.
Anyone who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 during the ITI will be isolated and dropped from the race, unless (and until) a COVID-19 test can be administered and reflects a negative result.
These are just some of the COVID-19 mitigation measures that will be in place for everyone’s safety. You will receive an informational sheet with the entire list of policies and procedures in February. In the meantime, be prepared to spend a lot of quality time outside in the glorious Alaskan wilderness
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