Health & Safety

Masks

Masks are recommended, but not required, to be worn at the event. This is subject to change based on local guidelines. Registered attendees will be notified 1 month prior to the event of any updates to our mask mandate and other on-site health & safety requirements.

Vaccine OR Negative COVID-19 Test Requirement

Attendees must show a negative COVID-19 test or be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus to attend. Fully vaccinated is defined as two weeks (14 full days) after the final dose (1 of 1, or 2 of 2) of a government-approved vaccine.

Accepted Vaccines
Only vaccines approved for emergency or full use by the World Health Organization fulfill our vaccine requirement. View the most up-to-date list of accepted vaccines here. 

Vaccine Verification
Participants will need to show proof of vaccination and a government-issued photo id to enter the event. The following are acceptable forms of proof of full vaccination: 

• Government-issued or government-compliant digital vaccination verification app (such as Clear or VaxYes)
• Physical (or digital photocopy of) COVID-19 vaccination card, record or certificate issued by a government agency, public health agency or other authorized vaccine provider (a photo will also suffice).

Accepted Negative COVID-19 Test
Attendees must provide a negative PCR/NAAT COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of check-in from a verified provider. Negative COVID-19 test results must include your name and the date and time of the test. At-home test results will not be accepted.

Daily Temperature & Symptom Checks

Event participants will receive a daily temperature & symptom check prior to entering the ‘event zone.’ This will only be required upon entry each day. A badge sticker will be provided after the check to allow for re-entry for the remainder of the day without additional checks. 

Wearable Indicators of Social Distance Comfort Levels

We will provide a wearable indicator of social distance comfort levels for event participants to wear onsite (optional but encouraged). Participants are asked to be respectful of each other’s comfort level on social distance.

Please expect some, if not all, to be in place at 2022 in-person events as well. 

• Masks are strongly recommended, but not required, to be worn at the event
• Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test
• Temperature check and health symptom attestation
• Event signage indicating required health and safety protocols 
• Additional space between speakers and attendees in conference rooms to allow speakers to give talks without wearing masks while keeping attendees safe
• Wider aisles and increased event traffic flow signage to allow for physical distancing
• Rigorous onsite cleaning and sanitizing of all touch points including cleaning of each badge check-in station between participants
• Sanitized microphones between each speaker’s use
• Plentiful sanitation stations onsite 
• Personal hand sanitizer bottles, masks, and wipes available for participants

At a minimum, we will be following all mandated venue, municipality, and NHS guidelines. This list, and all protocols, are subject to change as the fluid COVID-19 situation changes. 

What should I do if I am onsite and not feeling well?

If you aren’t feeling well, please watch for COVID-19 symptoms. Depending on your symptoms and how unwell you feel, please go to the nearest testing facility, urgent care, or hospital. Please follow the NHS guidelines on when you should seek medical attention if you are showing COVID-19 symptoms.

Should you end up testing positive:

• Follow the NHS guidelines on what to do if you get sick. 
• Please follow the guidance of the testing facility, urgent care, or hospital that you visited in order to best protect yourself, as well as the community. The facility at which you test positive will notify NHS if deemed necessary by local guidelines for contact tracing purposes.
• You will not be able to return to the event.
• Email Tricia Braker, Event Manager, at tbarker@linuxfoundation.org, to let us know. While we will need to let event participants know that someone onsite tested positive for COVID-19, we will not disclose your name.
• Don’t hesitate to contact us at events@linuxfoundation.org.

We are consulting with Dr. Joel Selanikio, a physician and former CDC epidemiologist + outbreak investigator, to do our best to ensure the health and safety of our onsite participants and minimize all risks. Dr. Selanikio served as a consultant epidemiologist to the DC Department of Health and to FEMA for the COVID-19 response over 2020-21.

We are also working closely with the local Department of Health to ensure we are following all local requirements and recommendations. We continue to follow all CDC guidelines in addition to those of the local government and venue. 

About COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/about-covid-19.html

When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html

Large Gatherings: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/large-gatherings.html

Updated Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated Individuals (7/28/21): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html