Lessons Learned from In-Person Conferences in the Times of COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Event Management

Background:

• In-person scientific meetings have resumed post-COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating continued safety measures.
• Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants require updated strategies for safe gatherings.
• Previous safety protocols may not suffice against evolving viral threats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-layered safety protocol at an in-person conference.
• To assess the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during and immediately after the Hep-DART 2021 conference.
• To propose a replicable model for safely conducting future in-person events.

Main Methods:

• A case study of the Hep-DART 2021 conference in Los Cabos, Mexico.
• Implementation of vaccination, social distancing, mask-wearing, and daily onsite antigen testing.
• Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infection status among 166 delegates and accompanying family members.

Main Results:

• Zero antigen-positive SARS-CoV-2 tests among 166 attendees during the 4-day conference.
• Two delegates tested positive in the week following the conference, likely due to post-conference travel or activities.
• The implemented safety measures were highly effective in preventing in-conference transmission.

Conclusions:

• The MEX-DART model, combining multiple safety interventions, successfully facilitated a COVID-19-free in-person conference.
• This approach serves as a viable template for organizing future scientific meetings and events during respiratory virus pandemics.
• Continued vigilance is advised due to seasonal surges of respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and influenza.