COVID 19 Health and Safety Plan - TED22 (5-2-22 Update)

The 11^th Annual Workshop on Trace Explosives Detection (TED), will be held May 9-13, 2022 in New Orleans, LA. In the interest of maintaining the optimum level of safety for all attendees and guests, the TED Workshop is implementing a number of COVID 19 mitigation strategies which will be updated as needed considering changes in local conditions at the meeting site and any updated guidance from the CDC.

Vaccination

Full vaccination for all participants or a negative COVID 19 PCR or rapid antigen test prior to your arrival in New Orleans is highly recommended.

Masking

Based on the current CDC community level guidance, the city of New Orleans is not currently mandating mask use in indoor settings (5-2-2022). However, we have many attendees coming from domestic and international locations that currently have levels of COVID transmission that meet the CDC criteria for “high community level” prompting the CDC to recommend the use of a well fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status. Therefore, the TED Workshop organizing committee is requesting all participants to wear masks (KN95, N95, or surgical (procedure) masks) in our shared indoor spaces, including both the conference and break rooms, throughout the event. The exception would be when giving a presentation or eating/drinking. Wearing a mask (or not) at the workshop is ultimately a personal choice and we ask that everyone makes their choice responsibly and be mindful and respectful of other attendees' comfort level and preferences

Physical Distancing

The TED workshop has arranged with the conference hotel to provide physically-distant seating and event space set-up to allow individuals who wish to physically distance while in sessions to do so comfortably. Additionally, to help attendees communicate their level of comfort in interacting with one another, we will provide color-coded ribbons, to attach to the lower part of one's name badge, to all attendees:

As part of your TED Workshop registration, most meals are provided throughout the conference including daily continental breakfast, lunches, several dinners and morning and afternoon breaks. We are working with the hotel to limit the number of seats per table to allow for physical distancing as well as increased spacing between tables. In addition, all meals will be available as a to-go option allowing you to take your meal to another location such as outside or to your room.

Testing

As part of our COVID mitigation plan, the TED workshop will provide 2 rapid COVID test kits to all attendees at registration. We strongly encourage attendees to utilize these kits periodically (especially before the first event or session) as a way to further minimize the potential spread of COVID. Attendees are also encouraged to consider bringing additional self purchased rapid tests for pre travel testing or for additional testing during the meeting.

Other

The hotel has committed to providing high quality ventilation for the meeting rooms. We have purchased several portable CO₂ monitors to allow for continual monitoring of the meeting room air quality and will adjust HVAC rates as needed to ensure the appropriate exchange of room air.

If you develop COVID-like symptoms or have a positive rapid test during the conference, we ask that you not attend the technical sessions or meals. Information on local urgent care facilities and on site PCR testing is available at the conference registration desk.