Health & Safety Protocols

Previous Protocols for the January Event:

ADED and NMEDA are excited  to welcome you to Columbus for our inaugural co-located conferences and Auto Mobility Expo. Your safety is our highest concern. We want to share some information about safety during this in-person event and will continue to update you as current and updated information becomes available. Our information and guidance is fluid based on the CDC guidelines, state and local mandates, and facility protocols and procedures.

Proof of COVID vaccination or negative COVID test will be required for attendance. We require that at least two weeks have passed since you received either a one-dose vaccine or the second dose of a two-dose vaccine. Any vaccine on the CDC approved and authorized vaccines list is acceptable.

At this time, according to the CDC and local guidelines, all participants will be required to wear a mask in meeting rooms, the expo or in any other indoor settings, when not actively eating, drinking or speaking from a lectern that’s 6+ feet away from others. All facilities staff will be wearing masks.

Proof of negative COVID test results must show: 

• The test result is negative, AND
• The test was taken within the last 72 hours, AND
• The type of test is antigen (Ag) or PCR/NAAT COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2, AND
• The result is from a laboratory or healthcare or test provider or patient platform for the healthcare provider.
• The following are not acceptable: antibody or serology tests, a COVID-19 self-test, sometimes referred to as “home test”, and documentation of recovery from COVID-19.

Click here for testing resources provided by Experience Columbus (1/6/22).

We will also have social distance preference badge ribbons available at all registration counters, so you can let others know your level of comfort while together:

Red = Keeping my distance with a smile and a wave,
Yellow = OK with talking at a distance but no touching,
Green =  Comfortable with handshakes or hugs.

There will be hand sanitizer available outside every room at the convention center which is where all our conference events are happening. Our events have ample seating capacity, so all attendees are welcome to space themselves out to their desired comfort level.

The CDC recommends: “If you are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the Delta variant, and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in area of substantial or high transmission.” You can track transmission levels for Franklin County, Ohio here: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view

Not vaccinated? You can find a vaccination center here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/How-Do-I-Get-a-COVID-19-Vaccine.html

We are in regular contact with the staff at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Hyatt Regency Columbus, and the Hilton to verify that policies ensuring the safety and wellbeing of guests are in place.  Below are links to each venue’s protocols, but in a nutshell:

• Convention Center: Masks are required indoors per the City of Columbus mandatory face covering order for all publicly accessible spaces. In addition, regular sanitation occurs during the show, cleaning high-touch areas, ensuring sanitizer stations are available outside each breakout room. Environmental hygiene protocols and standards are in place for the facility, food service, staff, and  for minimizing risk for guests. https://columbusconventions.com/about/coronavirus-information/
• Hyatt: Requiring masks for all staff, highly encourages guests to mask as well. Methods in place for safe distancing, safe food and beverage practices in all outlets, light housekeeping to reduce exposure risks. https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/info/global-care-and-cleanliness-commitment
• Hilton: masks encouraged and following guidelines.  Safe cleaning procedures in place. https://covid.hilton.com/

Should you have any questions, please reach out to us.

UPDATED: 1/04/22