Updated STFM Health and Safety Policy for Conference and Event Attendees

The STFM Board of Directors in cooperation with the STFM Program Committee has updated the STFM Conference Covid-19 Policy effective April 11 for the 2022 STFM Annual Spring Conference in Indianapolis.

The Executive Committee and the Program Committee considered the decline in Covid cases and Covid-related hospitalizations across most areas of the country, the CDC's latest recommendations on masking in Green Level 1 areas, our attendees being fully vaccinated and boosted, the current environment of relaxed masking and social distancing requirements around the country, and Indianapolis and JW Marriott Hotel operating at a CDC "Green Level 1". These changes are intended to provide more flexibility for attendees based on their level of comfort with masking and social distancing and include:

• Masks are encouraged but no longer required.  It is up to the individual conference attendee to decide if they wish to wear a mask based on their personal comfort level.
• Social Distancing is no longer required.  We will provide options that allow conference attendees to find seating in meetings and at events where they are most comfortable.
• STFM will still require an attestation of being fully vaccinated for Covid to attend. Conference attendees who requested a vaccination exemption are required to wear a mask at all conference meetings and events. To date, this number of preregistered attendees requesting an exemption is extremely small.
• Conference meals will be offered as grab and go to allow individuals the flexibility to eat with others or in their room.
• STFM reserves the right to modify these policies up to and throughout the dates of the conference should conditions warrant a less flexible approach to masking/social distancing.
• We ask all attendees to respect the decisions of your fellow conference attendees.