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Covid Safety
Our Covid safety strategy depends on 3 layers, following the swiss cheese model. These are testing, masking and air filtration. Having 3 layers means we can compromise on some details if necessary, those will be described in their respective categories.
Testing
Pluslife
Pluslife is a commercial, molecular LAMP assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
If you want to know about the tests we use, read up on the technology on virus.sucks, but to summarize: Pluslife is a test for SARS-CoV-2 infections similar to rapid antigen tests, but with near-PCR sensitivity and it takes 35min for the result.
Contraindications
As some foods and drinks can lead to false results, it is recommended to not drink or eat anything for 30-60 minutes before arrival.
As we test for any indication of Covid, it would also be contraproductive to use any tools/medicine which reduces viral load before testing.
This includes nasal sprays like VirX, as well as mouthwash like Listerine. Since those have an effect for a long time, we ask you not to use them for 4 hours before the event.
We are aware that both are limitations and especially the latter hinders your ability to protect yourself on the way. Sadly, there is no other way to protect the rest of the attendees if we cannot test all attendees correctly.
How do we Swab?
We take samples in the throat, cheek, below the tongue, and at the front of the nose. If swabbing the throat is a problem for you, a nasopharyngeal (deep nose) swab can be done instead.
The swabbing will be done either by us or by yourself supervised by us. The people swabbing/supervising will wear masks and gloves and are experienced in taking samples like this.
We take two sample swabs so we have a second one for an individual test in case you are in a positive pool. If taking two sets of samples presents any challenges to you, feel free to speak to us and we will try to find a different arrangement. Arrangements we considered are:
- Only one set of samples is taken immediately and the second only in case you are positive. This will require you to not eat or drink anything until you have a negative pool result or the potential second swab is taken.
- Only one set of samples is taken and tested individually. We would ask you to donate a little bit extra if you can since this almost triples the cost of your test.
Pool Testing
We test in pools of 3. This means that 3 swabs are put inside 1 test kit and tested together. This reduces the amount of machines needed and the cost of the tests.
The disadvantage of pooling is that if the result is positive, we do not know who of the 3 people is positive or how many. Therefore, a positive pool of 3 requires an additional 3 individual tests. We expect few, if any, positive results, as people coming to the event are usually very cautious and therefore unlikely to be currently infected with Covid. But, a negative pool requires 3 additional swabs and 3 additional tests again taking 35 mins. This is why our default process involves 2 swabs in the beginning, to already have a swab ready to retest.
Positive results are often visible after 15 minutes already, meaning the individual tests can start earlier than 35 minutes and will therefore be finished earlier than two full tests. But, if your pool is positive, your time to result takes longer, which might be up to an additional 35mins more.
As we do events for cautious, non-rich people, we chose to do pooling. We try to find individual solutions for the disadvantages, if they are a problem for you. See the swabbing section.
Waiting for results
After being swabbed, you can talk to people on the sidewalk, meet in the park (Hochstädter Str. 8) or go for a walk. If you want to, you can bring table tennis rackets, there are table tennis tables in the park. Please keep in mind that since all of the attendees are still untested, you and other people might want to keep more distance or wear your mask while waiting.
The test will take around 40 minutes including test preparations, but can take longer if there is a problem in the lab or with another part of the process.
When we have test results, we will come look for you with the number on your wristband. If you want to go for a walk or come back later, you can leave your phone number at the front desk to be messaged your result. If you cannot be reached or found, you get your result whenever you come back to the location.
Wristbands
After swabbing, you get a yellow wristband, which means “you were tested already”. It has a number on it which we use to identify your test, so we can find you again to tell you your result. You will not have to give any personal info to us.
After a negative result, you will receive a green wristband, which means you can enter the location and other people know you are negative.
Please try to not lose or rip off your wristband.
Masking
We only allowed certified, non-valved FFP2 and higher masks to be used indoors. We probably will have some extra masks, but if they don’t fit you well, you might not have a mask to attend.
Air Filtration
As our third layer of safety, we follow the two guidelines from the CDC:
- Enough air flow to produce more than 6 air changes per hour. (The CDC writes of 5 ACH, while the link to the study writes that >6 is better)
- At least 90m³ airflow per person per pour [citation needed!]
Since COVID-19 is airborne and transmitted by aerosols staying in the air many hours, the air is cleaned by using filters capable of trapping virus particles docked to droplets and particles. By filtering the air, we ensure that even if someone would be infectious right under the sensitivity of being detected by our tests, the small amount of virus not filtered by the masks cannot accumulate in our air, or gets filtered out before spreading at all.
Dimensioning
Cafe Cralle has a room of 120 m². We don’t exactly know the height of the ceiling, so we calculate with a maximum height of 3.5m. This leads to a room volume of 420 m³ or less.
Calculating with 6 air changes per hour, we need air filters providing a consistent 2500m³ of clean air per hour (420 x 6).
Calculating with 90m³ per person, expecting no more than 20 people to fit inside the space, we need air filters providing a clean air per hour of 1800m³ (90 x 20).
Therefore, we operate HEPA filters of a combined clean air delivery rate of around 2000m³, spaced around the location, including the bathroom.
We will bring the following filters:
- 1x Xiaomi 4 Pro, CADR 500m³/h
- 2x Taotronic, CADR 360m³/h
- 2x CONOPU, CADR 230m³/h
- 1x Philips 800, CADR 190 m³/h
- 1x DIY CR-Box, CADR ~500m³/h
=> ~2400m³ CADR
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Costs and Donation Transparency
We bring our own air filters and Cafe Cralle allows us to use the location for free. Thanks, Cafe Cralle!
This means the only arising costs are the costs of testing.
10 Pluslife Tests cost 61,88€. This means a single Pluslife test costs 6,18€, a pool of 3 people costs 2.06€. As we need additional swabs for pool testing, we buy swabs in packs of 100x for 47€, this adds 0.47€ for a total of 2.53€ to test a single person.
If a pool is positive, we need to test 3 people once more, so every positive pool adds 19,95€. We calculate with at most 1 positive pool per event, that added cost is paid by the organizers from donations from previous events, as we cannot know that cost up front.
As we have only a low cost per person, we can easily allow people in without paying, if many other people donate the recommended 5€. The profits we make are split evenly between a donation to the location and our event-pool, from which we pay any positive pools and auxiliary organizing costs (IT, small damages, etc).
In the future, we want to use the money from the event-pool to improve accessibility, for example by providing SIP-valves or shuttle services for people who depend on them to attend.
Accessibility
This is what Cafe Cralle wrote on their website:
Wheelchair Accessibility
Café Cralle has a mobile ramp for the two stairs at our entrance. The door width is 90 cm, usable width is around 70 cm, slope 20 % and the maximum weight is 270 kg. Unfortunately we don’t have a wheelchair accessible toilet. We do have handholds on the toilet wall, which make getting up easier. On the Maxplatz, 300 meters from our bar is a public toilet which is wheelchair accessible.
Sensory Accessibility
"The lighting is warm. Normally the lighting is predominantly indirect and dim. Sometimes a lamp is flickering. There are no coloured light and no lights that move. If you have further questions don’t hesitate to ask via phone 030 4553001 or via mail cafecralle@cafecralle".
Smell
Cafe Cralle is a bar. At the other evenings, smoking is allowed. Though they have an air filtration system, expect leftover smoke smell. You might not be able to attend if you are very sensitive to this and usually smell this through your mask.
The sidewalk outside the location where drinks can be sipped is a very quiet backstreet. However, there may be members of the public passing by.
The other option to drink your drinks is at a small park nearby. There may be members of the public close to you as well though as this isn’t a private yard.
On the topic of SIP valves
Accessibility is a topic that sometimes produces contradictions. During event planing, we thought a lot about whether to allow SIP Valves or not. This is a difficult decision as it often allows chronically ill people and those with long COVID who can’t easily step outside the opportunity to drink something in the first place. Simultaneously, SIP valves are very expensive at ca. 15+ euro per valve that can only be used 5-10 times. Allowing drinking only through them might cement a culture of only those with enough money being able to drink inside.
For this event on the 21st April, we decided to allow SIP valves to drink inside. This is partly because we were advised to do so by members of the long COVID community. We regret that you will have to step outside to drink if you cannot afford a SIP valve but we currently can’t provide SIP valves on a base of lower donations [phrasing] – and at this point, at all, because shipping takes a lot of time.
We are revising this policy constantly and if drinking at all times is important to you, please refer to our outside events at this time.
Rain
Since all attendees need to wait outside until tested negative, you should bring appropriate clothing for the weather, to spend approximately an hour outside.
At the location, there are a few balconies on the house and a garage driveway besides it, so for sipping a drink outside, there are a few sheltered spaces.
Since these will be crowded during arrival and setup, waiting for test results will mostly happen in the park about 40m to the side. If you think it might rain, please bring weatherproof clothing and/or an umbrella.
Also, masks can get wet, which drastically reduces their effectiveness and makes it harder to breath through it. Please bring spare masks in case of rain.
Drinks
Can I buy drinks?
Yes. Since we meet in a bar you can buy drinks – alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The prices will be moderate. Check this page for more information later.
We don’t sell strong alcoholic beverages and don't want our attendees to consume strong alcoholic beverages. Intoxication could lead to not following the safety measures and in general might make other attendees uncomfortable, so we kindly ask you to know your limit.
Can I drink inside the bar?
No. We have a strict mask mandate. You are not allowed to take off your mask for whatever reason. SIP valves are allowed.
Isn’t it strange, not to drink in a bar?
Yes, but safety first. Please take you drink and drink outside. You should not be alone, as there are many people who want to drink beverages. And we encourage attendees to share company with people drinking outside.
May I use my SIP valve to drink?
Yes. If you happen to have a SIP valve you can drink in the bar. Otherwise, you have to go outside for that.
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