Wi2023 Health & Safety

Wi2023 HEALTH & SAFETY

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COVID PROTOCOL

 

Please be sure to check back for any changes or updates as policies are subject to change.
 
In-person attendance at Winter Institute (Wi2023) is limited to individuals who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including children.
  • This means that, unfortunately, unvaccinated children will not be permitted to accompany attendees at any Wi2023 events.
  • At this time, boosters are not required.
  • Although ABA is requiring vaccinations for attendees, others at the Sheraton and the Seattle Convention Center may not be vaccinated and we cannot require that their employees be vaccinated. Currently, masks at this event are optional.
  • All attendees will be able to choose from different colored lanyards to attach to your badge, which will indicate your comfort level with others approaching you.
    GREEN = handshakes/fist bumps welcome
    YELLOW = elbow bumps and a little space appreciated
    RED = no handshakes and lots of space please
    Color-coded lanyards for Ci10
  • We have partnered with HealthShield in order to verify vaccination status for all attendees. Due to our COVID vaccination requirements and the need for a unique, secure, and GDPR compliant way to communicate with attendees, cell phone numbers are required for this event and will be collected at registration. Note that HealthShield is not an app, so there is nothing to download. HealthShield is GDPR-compliant and US Department of Commerce “Privacy Shield” compliant. Their security measures meet or exceed all current industry standards.
  • If the name that was provided for your event badge does not match the name on your vaccination card, please contact ABA’s DEIA Member Relations Manager Elisa Thomas at [email protected] for assistance with your vaccination clearance.
  • Approximately three weeks before the event, each attendee will receive a text message with a link to upload their document. 
We request that if you’re not feeling well at any point during your stay, or if you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, to please get tested, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection. For convenience and to prevent possible exposure to others, we recommend you bring your own COVID tests to the event.
This policy is subject to change should the CDC recommendations and/or guidelines change prior to the event. ABA's vaccination requirement is part of our commitment to making our events as safe as possible in this new COVID-19 era. We offer a virtual event following each in-person event to make programming accessible to those who can not attend.
 
HEALTH & SAFETY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Important health and safety terms

Given the nature of COVID-19, ABA cannot guarantee a 100% safe event for all attendees. If you attend the event in any capacity you acknowledge that you recognize this reality. That said, ABA will do everything we can to support the safest environment possible for attendees including the following guidelines:
 
  • Everyone attending must be vaccinated and must upload their vaccination information to the HealthShield app provided. (Boosters are not required but are strongly recommended, per the CDC.)
  • Although ABA is requiring vaccinations for attendees, others at the venues may not be vaccinated including venue employees; venues cannot require their employees to be vaccinated.
  • Attendees are requested to test within 24 hours before they depart home for the event so they can stay home if they test positive. ABA will reimburse registration fees in these instances.
  • Masks are not required to attend the event in general, though some instances may require masks (IndieCommerce one-on-ones and some author tables, for example). Attendees may choose to wear masks for their protection and the protection of others. ABA asks that everyone support that choice.
  • Frequent hand washing and/or sanitizing is strongly recommended. ABA will have hand sanitizer available at the event, while supplies last. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer as well.
  • Attendees are strongly encouraged to bring at-home COVID tests to test themselves as needed during the event.
  • If an attendee tests positive during the event, ABA asks that they refrain from attending the remainder of the event.
  • If an attendee is notified during the event that a close contact has tested positive, they are encouraged to test and engage in CDC recommended protocols.
  • All attendees will be able to choose from different colored lanyards to attach to your badge, which will indicate your comfort level with others approaching you. Please check the color of people’s lanyards.
    • GREEN = handshakes/fist bumps welcome
    • YELLOW = elbow bumps and a little space appreciated
    • RED = no handshakes and lots of space please
       
Since vaccinations are required, we cannot allow unvaccinated children to accompany attendees at any part of the Wi2023 event.
 
As we all know, COVID is part of our lives now and the risk of contracting COVID is always a possibility. The recent experience at similar large events indicates that it is likely that someone at every large event has COVID. With this in mind, attendees will not be required to notify ABA if they test positive once the event has begun, nor will ABA be notifying everyone in attendance if anyone tests positive. Attendees should take precautions, as outlined above, and if they have greater concerns we understand that they may choose to not attend.
 
As this continues to be a fluid situation, please understand we are doing the best we can. We ask that everyone prioritize both Safety and Kindness.
 
We appreciate your help to keep everyone as safe as possible. Failure to abide by these policies will result in removal from this event and you will be banned from attending any future ABA conference.

About ABA

American Booksellers Association is a national trade association that supports and advocates for the success of independent bookstores. We provide members with education, networking opportunities, advocacy, resources, and technology. In turn our members support local schools through book fairs, donations and author visits; promote literacy; provide inclusive community centers; connect readers and books; add character to neighborhoods; champion and center diverse and new voices; and contribute to the local economy. We feel honored to support them in their work.

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