Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the AASV Annual Meeting

This page was last updated March 7, 2020, during the AASV Annual Meeting. The information was current as of March 7, but may now be outdated. Please visit the AASV COVID-19 page or CDC for the most up to date information.

AASV will still hold the Annual Meeting in Atlanta March 7–10.

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation is rapidly evolving. As we prepare for the annual meeting, AASV is following guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and will continue to monitor for any changes in recommendations. Your health is very important to us. Please visit CDC for the most up to date guidelines regarding travel and other recommmendations. 

Use everyday precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, influenza, and other infectious diseases:

  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Get an annual influenza vaccine as recommended by the CDC.

This year’s AASV Annual Meeting is a NO HANDSHAKE ZONE. Please refrain from shaking hands (forearm bumps are good substitutes) and follow CDC Guidelines.

The Hyatt Regency in Atlanta is also taking disease prevention seriously. International attendance at this year’s annual meeting is greatly reduced.

According to the CDC as of March 7, 2020, the immediate risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, for most people in the United States is thought to be low. The virus is not currently spreading widely in the United States. The situation is rapidly evolving, and the risk assessment is updated often.

Imported cases of COVID-19 in travelers, cases among close contacts of known cases, and community acquired cases with no known exposure have been detected in the US. People in communities where ongoing community spread has been reported are at elevated risk of exposure, with increased risk dependent on location. View current US case summaries here.

The CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy. The United States has implemented travel restrictions to people traveling from China and Iran. For the most up to date information regarding the outbreak and any travel announcements, visit CDC's COVID-19 travel web page.

It's important to remember that the risk of COVID-19 is associated with recent travel to China or other areas with sustained community transmission, not with groups of people or certain ethnicities.

 

Last updated: March 7, 2020