[Ohio-Talk] Information on Safety at National Convention

[Maggie Stringer]

A piece of what the president shared this evening during the monthly
presidential release.

National Convention COVID-19 Testing Protocols
Testing Protocols
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is committed to delivering a
safe and welcoming national convention experience. Part of this commitment,
as detailed in the NFB’s 2022 National Convention Safety Protocols, is
requiring all convention attendees to test negative for the COVID-19 virus
before participating in the convention itself. The protocols are as follows:

All attendees must provide a negative COVID-19 test result prior to
registering in-person or picking up online registration materials.
Tests must have been performed no more than seventy-two (72) hours prior to
check-in at the convention hotels (either the Marriott or Sheraton).
Test results will be accepted from either a laboratory test (e.g., an
RT-PCR test) or an FDA-approved rapid test (e.g., a point-of-care or
at-home self-test).
Negative test results may be emailed in advance to testresults at nfb.org.
Emailed results should include, at a minimum, the individual’s first and
last name, city, and state. Negative test results may also be presented
in-person at the hotel.
Attendees must demonstrate negative test status via a time-stamped photo,
screenshot, PDF, or other electronic or hardcopy document generated as a
result of the administered test.
Tests will be administered at the Marriott New Orleans by a third-party
provider for those who did not or were unable to test prior to arriving at
the hotel. Testing will be conducted at both hotels and will begin the
afternoon of Monday, July 4.
Attendees that have tested negative or provided proof of a negative test
will be given a wristband—reading “Together in NOLA 2022” in
Braille—indicating their negative status.
Attendees must present their wristband when picking up registration packets
or registering for convention onsite.
Attendees are asked to wear their wristband and/or name badge at all NFB
events throughout the convention. Attendees may be asked to produce a
wristband or name tag at any time if neither is readily visible.

While not required for participation, the National Federation of the Blind
strongly encourages its members to follow CDC guidance on vaccinations and
boosters. Information can be found at
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html.

Mask Policy
All attendees are to be fully masked (mask covering the nose and mouth and
properly fitted to the face) in all meetings, the exhibit hall, and other
public hotel spaces when not actively eating or drinking. Disposable face
masks will be provided at various locations during convention for those who
do not have one.

Speakers and presenters are permitted to remove their masks during their
presentations and any Q&A portions of the event, but they are to replace
their masks when not speaking.

The NFB will continue to monitor local, state, federal, and CDC guidelines
and recommendations regarding masks. Any necessary modifications to the
mask policy will be communicated accordingly.

Social Distancing
All attendees are encouraged to practice social distancing whenever
possible throughout convention. The National Federation of the Blind will
work with the Marriott and Sheraton hotels to set meeting rooms, when space
allows, to provide extra room around convention-goers, enabling some degree
of distance between speakers and attendees and among individuals in the
audience. The NFB may limit the maximum number of attendees in some events
such as the exhibit hall. Other rules and/or limitations may be imposed to
augment social distancing efforts.

The NFB urges attendees to be respectful of their Federation family’s
comfort levels. Be thoughtful about preferences for hugs, handshakes, elbow
bumps, or simple verbal greetings; leave seats open between each other
where and as space allows; and accommodate your neighbor’s personal space
preferences.

While six feet of separation will not be possible at all times, vaccination
and masking policies will significantly aid in keeping indoor spaces safe
for interaction. Additionally, hand sanitation stations are plentiful
throughout the hotel and the NFB will ensure plenty of sanitizer is on-hand
for attendees’ use.

COVID-19 Symptoms Guidance
The National Federation of the Blind follows CDC guidelines regarding those
experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Self-monitoring is critical for ensuring
the health and safety of both you and those around you. Should you
experience symptoms of COVID-19 within five days prior to your arrival at
convention, please stay home and recover. Join us as a virtual attendee.
Your Federation family will thank you.

If at any time during convention week you begin to experience symptoms of
COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
for COVID-19, please self-isolate, notify NFB staff, and get tested
yourself. And finally, if you test positive for COVID-19 within five days
after leaving convention, please inform NFB staff.

New Orleans City Service Locations
A list of emergency services, dialysis centers, hospitals, and COVID-19
testing facilities in New Orleans is available.

Flexible Refund Policy
Registered attendees who are unable to attend convention due to a positive
test COVID-19 or exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
may request a refund of registration fees and any banquet tickets
purchased. Refund requests with supporting documentation must be received
in writing or via email by Friday, July 22. An attendee’s hotel room
deposit may also be refunded in full if email or phone notification is
received forty-eight hours prior to scheduled arrival.



Maggie Stringer
Phone: (443) 750-0070
Email: ravensfan784 at gmail.com
Community Service Facebook Page
<https://www.facebook.com/CommunityServiceDivision/>
NFB Website <http://www.nfb.org>
NFB Ohio Website <http://www.nfbohio.org>
“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra."