COVID-19 Safety Protocol
In the event that meeting is deemed unsafe or outlawed come next year, the IBDH symposia will be held entirely online through our improved virtual education platform. This approach was test run at the 5th Annual Pacific Northwest IBDH Symposium in March of 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Anyone who chose to avoid traveling was given access to our live virtual feed which turned out to be a great success. Additionally, in-person attendees still enjoyed the same experience with a few extra safety precautions.
With our enhanced understanding of how to reduce the risk of spread, an in-person would warrant the following safety measures in conjunction with any state and local mandates, all subject to change. An oversized ballroom space will allow for maximum social distancing by all those in attendance, which will be strictly enforced. Adequate space will be given from the speakers to the audience, and among all those who are on stage. Hand sanitizer stations will be conveniently placed throughout the venue. Masks will be required at all times with exceptions for speakers as they are actively presenting. All speakers traveling from outside the local area will be handled according to recommended out-of-state travel guidelines, possibly including testing. Attendee seating will be placed at least 6 feet apart from each other in all directions.
All of this is subject to change, and the decision to host in-person attendance will be made closer to the event date. Anyone who prefers to participate from home will still be able to do so in the case of an in-person event.