When you arrive, come to the events building first. That's 14754 Manahan Rd, same as the Google/Apple Maps address for Caboose Farm. We'll be really excited to see you, and we'll also have a covid test for you there. If you're arriving late Friday evening, or later in the weekend, come to the same place.
The first test is a Lucira: it's more sensitive, and takes about 30 minutes to run. We'll ask you to hang out with us outdoors or explore the grounds until it finishes; that way, whenever you're indoors, you know that everyone in the room has tested negative. (If you need to duck inside for the restroom before it's done, please wear a mask.)
After that, if you're spending more than one day with us, please take a Flowflex test first thing each morning. These only take 15 minutes, and we'll have them stocked in the houses where you'll be staying; if you're staying off-site, we'll hand you a stack to take back with you. When it comes back negative, send us a cell phone picture before you spend any time indoors with others.
We suggest starting it first thing when you wake up. That way, by the time you're done puttering around in your room and/or scrolling on your phone, you'll be all set. (If you need to be in shared house spaces like the restroom before it's done, please wear a mask.)
If you're in any doubt about whether you're starting to get sick—you have that little throat tickle, or possible allergies are kicking up, or your seatmate on the flight just kept coughing—that's a great reason to take a second test in the afternoons, so there's no uncertainty. We'll have plenty of extras.
That's more than I'm used to doing!
Thank you for being so flexible! Some of our friends and family are immunocompromised or otherwise high-risk, and we don't want anyone else to get sick either. Everyone has different levels of precaution in our everyday lives, and rapid tests—more than any other single measure—make it possible for us all to meet up without worrying.
Please consider wearing a mask on your flight over, and in other crowded spaces before the weekend, even if you usually don't: it helps keep everyone else at the wedding safe, and reduces your chances of testing positive and having to miss part of the weekend.
What if I test positive, or I get sick with something else?
Let us know. We have some extra rooms on-site, so we'll be able to give you your own space, and bring you food and whatever you need. After the weekend is over, if you need a place to stay before traveling home, we'll help you get set up.
Are you worried that someone might skip their test?
Nah. We know our friends and family, and nobody at the wedding would do something like that. The pictures are just so we can remind you if you forget. By the way, everyone working on-site over the weekend will be testing too.
I brought my own rapid tests from home!
Please use ours, or at least the same brands as ours. We spent a very normal amount of time researching rapid tests and picked the ones with characteristics we care about to minimize the risk of spread.
If you want to take your own Lucira before coming to Caboose Farm, just send us a picture. Please take it as late (i.e. as close before your arrival) as practical, but definitely on the same day.
I, too, spent a very normal amount of time researching rapid tests! Why Lucira and Flowflex?
Lucira is very sensitive, roughly comparable to a PCR test. If it comes back negative, it means with a good level of confidence that there's no covid infection, even a pre-symptomatic one.
Rapid antigen tests like Flowflex don't have that characteristic; they can come back negative when viral load is low. But they excel at detecting a contagious infection. If a Flowflex test alone is negative, an asymptomatic infection is still possible, but it means with a good level of confidence that there's no risk of spread.
That's why the box tells you to test again after 48 hours before declaring yourself covid-free, and it's also why we're using a more sensitive test on arrival, to build that confidence faster. We wouldn't use this strategy if we were trying to diagnose you, but it's great for preventing spread at a gathering like this one.