Pro Global Media organises a number of specialised niche events each year, which are of great use to participants from around the world.
The health and safety of our exhibitors, visitors and staff is our number one priority.
Our approach to the Coronavirus situation is based on the published advice of globally-recognised health experts.
According to the WHO (1), ‘If you are not in an area where the Coronavirus is spreading, or if you have not travelled from one of those areas or have not been in close contact with someone who has and is feeling unwell, your chances of contracting the Coronavirus are currently low.’
In order to ensure that the events continue to benefit the maximum number of participants in a safe and hygienic setting, Pro Global Media has formulated the following policy with regards to the ongoing Coronavirus situation, using information from the WHO (2), CDC (US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) (3) and European arm of the WHO (4).
Prior to the meeting
Delegates are requested not to attend the event:
- if they feel unwell with flu-like symptoms;
- if they have any respiratory disease (such as a cough or cold);
- if they have been in close contact with anyone with flu-like symptoms or respiratory illness in the last fourteen days.
If you are unable to attend the event under the above circumstances, you should claim on your own travel insurance policy. A refund of conference fees is not available (please refer to the ‘Cancellation policy’ of each individual event).
Additionally, please note that the organisers are operating a geographical exclusion list, relating to specific countries, which is being updated on an ongoing basis. Countries excluded are those with a CDC Travel Guidance Level 3 (‘Avoid nonessential travel’) (3). Please ensure that your travel insurance will cover your expenses in case you are unable to attend for this reason. Please note that exclusion only applies to those who have been in ‘Level 3’ countries within 14 days of the start of the event. In this circumstance, a refund is available minus an administrative charge, or alternatively the delegate fee may be deferred in full to a future event at no additional cost.
We are sorry for any inconvenience.
If you wish to participate without attending in person, Pro Global Media will still welcome you in the following ways:
- Propose a presentation by video-recording; (contact the conference convenor, Dr Robert McCaffrey, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- Have your presentation included on the official event memory stick as a PDF; (contact the conference convenor, Dr Robert McCaffrey, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- Be part of the event’s online Cyber-networking community; (contact the conference convenor, Dr Robert McCaffrey, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- Availability of conference materials (proceedings book, presentations) by post-event download; (contact Mrs Amanda Crow, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- Sponsorship and commercial opportunities (pens, writing pad, delegate badges, lanyards, delegate bags, giveaways, advertising in the conference proceedings volume etc); (contact Paul Brown, commercial director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- Event branding (banners, flags, roll-ups etc); (contact Paul Brown, commercial director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- Print and online advertising; (contact Paul Brown, commercial director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- Appropriate editorial inclusion in Pro Global Media’s magazines, emails, newsletters and social media. (contact the editor, Dr Peter Edwards, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
At the meeting
Please adhere to the usual and well-known basic rules of hygiene:
- If you feel unwell with a fever, self-isolate;
- Catch a cough or sneeze in a handkerchief, tissue or in the crook of your elbow;
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% - 95% alcohol immediately after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty;
- Do not touch your mouth, nose or eyes with your hands, etc;
- In day-to-day circumstances, people who are well do not need to use a mask (5);
- Additionally, we will use an alternative non-handshake greeting, to be decided at each meeting (such as a nod, wave, salute, bow, virtual fist-bump or namaste) (6, 7) (we are running a poll to find your preferred option).
Conclusion
Businesses need forums in which to meet contacts, network, get up-to-date with developments and to do business, on an on-going basis. Conferences and exhibitions are a very effective means of achieving a great deal in a short amount of time and with a high return on investment. By adopting the above policies, Pro Global Media will pragmatically balance the benefits of attendance with the actual low risk of the situation.
This policy will be updated on an ongoing basis, as required.
We thank you for your understanding.
References
1 https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/
2 https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
3 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html
4 http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19
5 https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ucmoVPrKto
7 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2014.04.011
This policy was first announced on 26 February 2020, and was last updated on 5 March 2020 at 12.36 GMT
