Health and Safety Precautions
We are all in this together!
Last Updated July 20, 2022
Notification
As a follow-up to our post-conference email notification, as well as our email and verbal notification at conference, you may be aware, an attendee reported a positive Covid test on Friday afternoon, July 15. We now understand that a second attendee tested positive on Saturday, July 17, after returning home. As a result, there is a potential that you were exposed, and we ask that you visit this helpful CDC page with general recommendations and specific guidance for various scenarios.
Guidance on COVID
To make the 17th National Conference on Hydrocephalus, HA CONNECT (“Conference”), a safe, healthy, and enjoyable event the leadership of the Hydrocephalus Association (HA) believes that all of us who attend the Conference should come together with a sense of shared responsibility and respect for the health and well-being of all members of the Hydrocephalus Community. This will allow everyone to attend the Conference with as little risk from COVID as is possible. We have carefully reviewed the science, guidance and health regulations put forth by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the city of Austin, the state of Texas, the corporate hotel headquarters, the Austin Downtown Marriott, as well as all travel restrictions that have been issued.
We are providing the following guidelines to enable all participants to feel protected and safe as we reconnect as a community. We do ask everyone to keep in mind that the risk of COVID exists not only at the Conference, but also during travel or when persons go outside the conference hotel for shopping, restaurants, or other activities. We will continue to monitor safety recommendations and will update the community as the Conference date approaches.
HA’s Recommendation
Our Conference brings together individuals across the age spectrum and potentially living with a number of other health conditions including but not limited to, spina bifida, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy. Some medical conditions may make members of our community more vulnerable to the effects from severe COVID-19 illness. In addition, there will be children in attendance who are not age-eligible to be vaccinated against COVID and who are also vulnerable. In light of these facts, we strongly encourage all faculty, attendees, and exhibitors to be vaccinated, per current guidance from the CDC and WHO. In following current regulations from state, local, and hotel authorities, masks are strongly encouraged but not required. HA reserves the right to change the Conference COVID Policy pursuant to further guidelines and regulations provided by the CDC, state, local, the corporate hotel headquarters, and Austin Downtown Marriott.
Before Leaving Home
- In preparation for the conference, the HA staff will be taking COVID tests prior to attendee arrival. We strongly encourage and hope you will do the same. We’re in this together in our goal to keep everyone safe.
- Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 prior to travel should not attend conference. While we encourage ALL attendees to test prior to traveling to conference, we particularly ask anyone who has been exposed to a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 or who is experiencing symptoms themselves to test to confirm you are negative prior to travel.
- We recommend bringing your own test kit with you, so it will be readily accessible should you become symptomatic while in Austin.
- Contact the Hydrocephalus Association if you have concerns at conference@hydroassoc.org.
During the Conference
HA will follow the relevant guidance provided by the CDC, local and state laws, as well as the corporate hotel headquarters and the local hotel that is in effect at the time of the Conference.
- To the best of our ability, in coordination with the hotel, we will have social distancing options in place during the conference.
- If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, please take a COVID test and do not attend the conference until you test negative, and your symptoms resolve.
- Download our ConferenceMobile App or visit our Conference Mobile app webpage to find testing sites nearby. COVID-19 test kits can be purchased at nearby pharmacies and a limited number will also be available at our registration desk to support self-administered testing.
- Masks will be available at registration, and everyone should feel comfortable wearing masks during the conference as an extra layer of precaution.
- Alert a member of the hotel staff should you require medical attention so they may direct you to heath care facilities nearby.
- Please respect all safety and health-related signs and instructions.
- Stay up to date on safety recommendations from the local authorities.
If you have any questions, please contact HA by email at conference@hydroassoc.org. We also encourage you to sign up for our conference newsletter to receive the latest updates by email. You can sign up here. We are all working together to help keep meeting attendees safe!
Below are some helpful resources.
The headquarters hotel, the Austin Downtown Marriott Austin, adheres to their own “Commitment to Clean” protocols.
Information on COVID-19 resources in the city of Austin can be found on the Visit Austin Health and Safety page, which is updated regularly as additional information from community partners is collected.
Stay Connected. #HACONNECT
