COVID cases in the US are again on the rise. We ask that everyone adhere to the following:

• Make sure your vaccination/boosters are up to date, unless you are unable to be vaccinated.

• We very strongly encourage everyone to wear well-fitting face coverings in the lecture hall and when not actively eating/drinking. The conference will have some surgical masks available, but these are not optimal choices.

• We also encourage people to test regularly, if possible. The most convenient plan is likely to purchase at-home antigen tests before you arrive (if you live in the US, you should be eligible for free tests - see here - or you can purchase them in advance). Probably the most important times to test are in the morning of the first day and Thursday afternoon before the banquet (and of course, if you develop symptoms).

• If you recently contracted COVID or have a known exposure, follow the CDC guidelines for quarantine and isolation.

• Finally, to avoid unexpected expenses of having to isolate or cancel your trip, we also suggest that you consider purchasing a travel insurance policy to cover this eventuality. The conference budget is stretched very thin, and we apologize in advance that we will not be able to provide additional funding if your travel plans are disrupted/prolonged due to COVID.

Update: The US will no longer require a negative test to enter the country. We still ask everyone to be diligent with regard to COVID safety.