As part of the Online News Association’s efforts to create a safe environment for participants, we’ve engaged SWP Strategies, a consulting agency specializing in public health, to provide recommendations and guidance in advance of ONA Insights.
As part of their work, we asked SWP Strategies what participants could do to support one another from a health standpoint while attending the event, and they created the following post for us.
ONA is doing its part to protect the health and safety of each person attending the ONA Insights conference in Philadelphia. ONA is working closely with the meeting venue, the Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square, as well public health professionals, and following CDC guidelines to cultivate a safe environment and deliver a smooth conference experience.
As an attendee, there are some things you can do to look out for other community members during your time at the event:
- Wear your mask at all times. Currently, Philadelphia is under a mask mandate. Although you have received the Covid-19 vaccine, you may come in contact with others who have not. There is still a risk of contracting Covid-19 even if you’ve been vaccinated.
- Wash and/or sanitize your hands often.
- Practice physical distancing. We’re encouraging physical distancing during seated sessions and at the registration desk. CDC currently recommends staying six feet apart (approximately two arm lengths).
- Monitor for symptoms. Attendees should self-monitor for signs and symptoms of Covid-19, including: fever (greater than 100.4 F) or chills, new loss of taste or smell, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, muscle or body aches and/or headaches.
- Stay home if you aren’t feeling well! If you start experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, or any other illness, no matter how minor the symptoms, or if you come in contact with someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19, please stay home or in your hotel room if you’re already on site.
If you experience symptoms of Covid-19 or test positive for the disease within 10 days after attending ONA Insights, please inform ONA Chief Knowledge Officer Trevor Knoblich, who has been trained as our Covid Compliance Officer, by emailing trevor@journalists.org. Any private health or personal data ONA may receive in connection with such measures and precautions will be treated as confidentially as possible.