OCON 2021 and COVID-19

[Mark]

ARI event staff will be vaccinated, attendees must either be vaccinated or tested before and during event.  The following is from an email sent by ARI.

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Masks

No one will be required to wear a mask at the conference but of course, anyone is welcome to do so.

Proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test result (a requirement that will be waived with proof of vaccination).

We are requiring that all attendees bring proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of checking in person for the conference. We also are requiring that attendees take a second test for COVID-19 during the conference, 48 to 72 hours after check-in. We will provide this second test free of charge to attendees, but anyone who tests positive will have to self-isolate in accordance with the hotel’s (and any applicable governmental) procedures.

These two testing requirements will be waived, however, for any attendee who provides proof of having been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. You may bring proof of vaccination with you when you register in person. But to make the registration process as easy and quick as possible, you can upload your proof of vaccination here via our secure website. Your information will be stored in a private, secure server.

Regrettably, anyone who cannot provide proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours (and who has not had this requirement waived by providing proof of vaccination), will not be permitted to attend the conference in person. If you foresee this to be your situation, please contact us.

Signed liability waiver

We are requiring that all attendees sign a liability waiver when registering in person at the conference. For your reference, here is a link to the form that you will be required to sign.

ARI employees

ARI staff working at OCON will be required to provide proof that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Everyone at high risk for complications from COVID-19 is strongly encouraged to stay home and attend the conference virtually.

Everyone for whom reason exists to think that if they contract COVID-19, the illness will be severe, is strongly encouraged to stay home. This includes but is not limited to individuals who are unvaccinated and aged 65 or over, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Please contact us if you have paid the registration fee but for health reasons now wish to stay home.

All attendees should carefully weigh the fact that Austin is currently a COVID-19 hotspot.

The fact that Austin is currently a COVID-19 hotspot has implications that are worth considering. Here are two of the most important ones.

First, if you plan to go out in Austin to restaurants, bars, or other public venues, you should assume that you will be exposed to the virus. Even if you are fully vaccinated, this does not guarantee that you will not contract COVID-19, or that if you do contract COVID-19 you will be symptom-free, or that if you do contract COVID-19 you will not require hospitalization.

Second, various news outlets are reporting that Intensive Care Units in the Austin area are operating at or near capacity, and if you require ICU-level treatment for COVID-19, you should assume that it may be unavailable. And of course, this also holds true should you require ICU-level treatment for a non-COVID-19-related condition or disease.

If you decide to join us at OCON, know that we are planning a great, inspiring conference packed with great content and activities.

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[tmj]

"you keep using that word, I do no think it means what you think it means"

I. Montoya

[Mark]

tmj,

Why not tell us what you mean?

If you refer to the word “vaccinated,” I agree that the FDA/CDC use of the word is deceptive.

 

[tmj]

Yes I was referring to the number of times the letter mentioned the term vaccine/vaccinated and then described things that one would normally attribute to those unvaccinated against x y or z could be susceptible to.

Do they offer a panel on committees to do work for new dictionary submissions or ‘corrections ‘?