Health and Safety Measures

We are looking forward to reconnecting in person with colleagues and friends for the 2021 Annual Meeting. We aim to provide a regular in-person conference experience; however, some aspects of the meeting will differ from prior years to provide a safe meeting environment. Current measures follow.

For questions related to Covid vaccination status, PCR Covid Test, attestation uploads please contact APS directly at Meetings@APS.org.

• Click here for more info (PDF)

In-Person attendees agree to:

• Being fully vaccinated* against COVID-19 prior to attending the meeting with a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (i.e., Pfizer/BioNTech, Johnson and Johnson/Janssen, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Oxford, Sinopharm, or Sinovac).
• Attest to their vaccination status prior to the meeting through a process to be established by APS.
• Submit the results of a negative PCR Covid test taken within 3 days of your arrival at the Convention Center. APS is now also accepting certain antigen tests taken within 24 hours of arrival at the Convention Center. Specific information can be found under the Update above.
  
• Wear masks at all times in the meeting space, except when eating or drinking.
  • Attendees must provide their own masks.
  • Masks must cover and be worn at all times and fully cover their nose and mouth.
  • NOTE: masks with vent valves, bandanas, gaiters, and face shields without masks are NOT acceptable.
• Comply with all COVID-related procedures that may be implemented by DFD and the Phoenix Convention Center, including, but not limited to, mask-wearing and social distancing requirements and restrictions on certain activities that carry higher COVID-related risk, to protect, as much as possible, the health and safety of all DFD attendees.

* People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot of the Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Oxford, Sinopharm, Sinovac , or Covaxin/Bharat Biotech’s vaccine ), or two weeks after the single-dose J&J/Janssen, COVID-19 vaccine.

Additionally,

• Seating capacity in rooms will be reduced.
• The Conference Reception will be held outdoors (weather permitting.)
• Refreshment breaks will be set to minimize crowd sizes as much as possible.
• Space between exhibit booths and posters will be increased.

NOTE: touchless water bottle stations are located available in the building.

Information provided by the Phoenix Convention Center.

Face coverings are required for all City of Phoenix and service providers employees while indoors regardless of vaccination status.

The Phoenix Convention Center’s (PCC) engages five strategies to ensure the safest conditions possible for events.

1. Follow CDC recommendations for physical distancing.
2. Follow CDC recommendations for personal protective measures.
3. Remove touchpoints whenever possible.
4. Engage in the process of constant cleaning and disinfection.
5. Focus efforts on client communication and staff training.

PCC has installed permanent and temporary signage which reminds occupants to:

• Keep physical distance using:
  • Printed and digital signs
  • Floor appliques
• Encourage “right-hand travel” through doors and in circulation
• Direct participants to hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, which are liberally dispersed in all public

Additionally:

• All doors will be held open to eliminate touchpoints.
• Restrooms have been modified to add additional barriers between occupants. All fixtures are touchless, including faucets, soap dispensers, and paper towel machines.
• Restrooms will be cleaned throughout the day based and disinfected nightly based on the event schedule.
• Water bottle refill stations are available and are touchless.
• Parking operations are fully automated, eliminating person-to-person
• All tables, chairs, and equipment will be cleaned, disinfected, and reset

Ventilation Response Plan for COVID-19

The Phoenix Convention Center Department (PCCD) adheres to all building codes and regulations related to HVAC operations. We incorporate industry best practices and infectious disease mitigation strategies to maintain a safe environment. PCCD meets, and in many cases exceeds, the building ventilation recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

• Filter Maintenance
  PCCD utilizes “MERV” (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values) rated filters in every PCCD facility. MERV ratings are established by ASHRAE, the leading authority on HVAC operations in the United States. Higher MERV ratings provide greater filtration by trapping smaller particles as the MERV rating increases. Filters are replaced based on measurements of differential pressure, which rise as the filter captures particles from the air. Differential Pressure is monitored by automated systems, which alert operators as filters approach the established threshold for replacement.

* PCCD final filters are considered hospital grade filters by the ASHRAE rating system

• Air Exchange
  The PCCD closely monitors the air exchangers in each building to allow the maximum amount of outside air into the building. Mechanical Technicians at the PCCD are trained to consider several variables as outside air is brought into the building.  These variables include external ambient temperatures, relative humidity, the large volume of interior cubic air space, and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels that are constantly monitored. The PCCD has adopted the ASHRAE best practice of maximizing the air exchange rate during periods of sanitizing and disinfecting. This approach creates a planned opportunity to reset the building with outside air as the interior spaces are cleaned and refreshed.

Information provided by the Hotel.

• Masks: the Hotel requires staff to wear masks; guests are encouraged but not required to wear masks.
• Housekeeping – Sleeping rooms: reduced staff access to guest rooms by providing housekeeping on an alternate day schedule.
• Signage: signage throughout the Hotel to remind guests to maintain social distancing, occupancy limits
• Restaurants: seating capacities reductions in their restaurants in compliance with local and state mandates; partitions installed at food and beverage service lines.
• Front Desk: partitions installed at front desks
• Enhanced Public Space Cleaning: increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfection, particularly in areas with high traffic, including restrooms, elevators, and escalators, and provided more hand sanitizing stations.
• Electrostatic Spraying: utilizing enhanced technologies, including electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectants, supporting their already rigorous cleanliness protocols.
• Marriott Bonvoy members are invited to use the Marriott Bonvoy App (available on the App Store and Google Play) to take advantage of contactless options, including:
• Mobile Check-In/Check-Out: let them know via the app when you are planning to arrive and once you depart.
• Mobile Key: forgo the front desk altogether and go straight to your guest room.
• Mobile Dining: order your private, in-room Dining through the app.
• Mobile Guest Requests: connect with them via the app to request items you would like delivered to your guest room.
• Upgraded filters to a higher efficiency filter:
• Public Areas Ventilation
• The outside air intake has been increased to the Ballroom and public area air handlers.  All filters have been upgraded to a higher efficiency filter.  Air exchange programs have been created in the building management system to refresh the meeting rooms before and after meetings.
• Guest Corridors Ventilation
  • Each guest room floor has three fan-coil units to cool and heat the corridors.  Each fan-coil unit has its own outside air intake and does not share with other space.  The filters in each fan-coil unit have been upgraded to a higher efficiency filter
• Guest Room Ventilation
  • Each room has its own dedicated fan-coil unit to cool and heat the room.  Each fan-coil unit has its own outside air intake and does not share with other rooms.  The filters in each room have recently been upgraded to a higher efficiency filter.

Additional information can be found on the Marriott Corporate website, What to Expect.

For questions related to Covid vaccination status, PCR Covid Test, attestation uploads please contact APS directly at Meetings@APS.org.