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.
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 required not to attend the event:
- if they feel unwell with flu-like symptoms, a continuous cough, loss of taste or smell, or high fever;
- 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).
We are sorry for any inconvenience.
If you and your company wish to participate without attending in person, Pro Global Media will still welcome you in the following ways (charges may apply):
- 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.)
- 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, cough, headache, loss of taste or smell, then self-isolate;
- Maintain a distance of at least 1m from other delegates;
- 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;
- When inside and when not eating or drinking, you are encouraged to wear a mask, for your own health and the health of others (5);
- Additionally, we will use an alternative non-handshake greeting, such as a nod, wave, salute, bow, elbow bump, virtual fist-bump or namaste (6, 7).
Meetings will conform to the coronavirus regulations of the country that they are held in, and will also be adapted to the protocols of the individual event venue. These may include the following:
- Increased physical separation during meals;
- Wearing a mask or face covering;
- Elimination of buffet options (or obligation to wear a mask while serving);
- Restrictions on the use of some venue services (for example, gym, pool etc);
- One-way movement systems in hotel/venue;
- Temperature checks;
- Symptom questionnaires;
- It may be necessary to insist that attendees be able to show a recent vaccination certificate, proof of recovery from a previous infection, or certificate of antibody-positivity (or equivalent);
- A vaccine does not necessarily prevent you from being able to pass on a virus (8): It may be necessary to insist that attendees are tested for coronavirus at the start of each day of the event;
- Other coronavirus measure may be in place for delegate health and safety.
Delegates may be obliged to wear a wrist-band provided by the organisers to show their proof of status, and to give them access to the event.
Please note that delegates are obliged to comply with the health and safety measures put in place to safeguard themselves and others: The organisers and venue management retain the right to deny entry to anyone who refuses to comply with these safety measures.
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.
We thank you for your understanding.
This policy will be updated on an ongoing basis, as required.
This policy was first announced on 26 February 2020, and was last updated on 7 June 2021 at 16.03 GMT
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
8 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/fully-vaccinated-people.html
