COVID-19 Protocol
While we are hosting the conference off of the Penn Campus, we continue to follow Penn’s public health guidance, and ask that our guests do the same.
Please note that masking is always an option for anyone who chooses to wear a mask for any reason. We are all encouraged to wear a properly-fitting, high-quality mask (preferably a surgical mask, KN95/KF94, N95, or EHRS-recommended Aries mask as opposed to a single layer cloth mask), regardless of masking requirements, in the following situations:
- if, for any reason, you want to
- if you are not up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccinations
- if you are immunocompromised and personally at high risk
- if you are in frequent close contact with someone who is high risk
- if you have COVID-19 symptoms
- if you test positive for COVID-19
- if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19
- if you live in an area with substantial or high spread of the virus
- if you are traveling
All students, faculty, staff, and postdocs, regardless of vaccination status, are required to isolate for five days after a positive COVID-19 test, followed by five days of strict mask use. During the five days of masking following isolation, individuals should eat alone, maintain social distancing, and avoid in person meetings when able. We ask our guests to observe the same protocols.
Per the recent update from the CDC regarding quarantine guidance, individuals who have a high-risk exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, are not required to quarantine and are permitted to attend class and/or go to work while masked. Those with an exposure should test immediately and then again five days after exposure. They should continue to monitor for symptoms and wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask for 10 days post-exposure. If symptoms present, they should test immediately.
Anyone coming from outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania should be mindful of guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the City of Philadelphia. All travelers, even those who are fully vaccinated, are encouraged to wear a mask while traveling. State and local travel guidance is fluid and changes frequently.
Hand sanitizer will be widely available at our conference.