Meeting Format and Safety

ASTA is excited for the opportunity to see our members in person again! A virtual-only registration option is also provided at a lower cost.

ASTA is carefully monitoring developments related to COVID-19 as it pertains to regulations, guidelines and event logistics to ensure the health and safety of our event participants. Our conference is designed for maximum COVID-19 safety, while maintaining the opportunity to network with other participants. Our meetings staff is Pandemic Compliance Advisor certified and we take our Duty of Care seriously. Our host hotel, the Hyatt Regency Chicago, is a GBAC-STAR certified facility, ready to provide a safe and enjoyable event for ASTA participants. Please see the City of Chicago's COVID-19 Dashboard for more information.

Testing resources near the Hyatt Regency Chicago:

  • There is a CVS inside the Illinois Center, which is connected to the Hyatt by indoor pedestrian walkway. Check with hotel staff for directions on how to walk there.
  • O'Hare International Airport offers testing at flychicago.com/ORDtest.
  • Physicians Immediate Care has several nearby locations:

NOTE: As of November 9, 2021, the city of Chicago has issued a new Travel Advisory asking that anyone traveling from any one of 40 U.S. states, who is unvaccinated against the coronavirus, show a proof of a negative test within 72 hours of their arrival in the city and to quarantine from others for a period of 7 days, regardless of whether your test is negative or positive. For this reason, since vaccination prevents this testing and quarantine period from being necessary, ASTA began collecting proof of vaccination from our registered attendees. as of a prior advisory that had been issued October 5. Should this guidance by the city change further, this page will be updated.

As of November 8, 2021, the CDC has announced that foreign travelers will be permitted to travel to the U.S. with proof of having been vaccinated with one of the FDA- or WHO-approved coronavirus vaccines. The FDA has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use during the pandemic: Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer-BioNTech. The WHO has granted approval for those three as well as the Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covishield, Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines. 

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WHAT TO EXPECT ON-SITE

We have already taken steps to ensure that CDC guidelines will be followed for all participants' health and safety, including the following:

  • Masks will be required to be worn at the event.
  • As of August 2021, the City of Chicago requires masks to be worn indoors and asks large gatherings to require participants to show a proof of vaccination or a proof of negative COVID-test within 72 hours of your arrival. ASTA will comply with local government and CDC guidelines in order to ensure the safety of all participants. As these guidelines may continue to evolve, ASTA will be monitoring any changes closely and will comply with safety recommendations at the time as of our December dates.
  • Daily self-assessment health screenings will be offered and proof of screening shown will be required at the entrance daily. See our FAQs for more information.
  • Hand sanitizer will be provided.
  • Meeting space will be planned to facilitate social distancing and food service will be planned for maximum safety.
  • ASTA will offer full cancellation with refund should you or your close contacts become ill or have exposure to COVID-19.
  • Options for virtual participation are also offered.
  • If you should need medical care during the conference, see the list of nearby health facilities below.
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BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME

  • Visit the U.S. State Department's guidance on travel from outside the United States for the latest information on COVID-19 related travel requirements from your country.
  • If you are not vaccinated and/or you are coming to the U.S. from another country, here are some local resources on nearby testing facilities:
  • Do not come to the conference in person if you are ill or if you have had a known exposure to someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus. You may want to visit the CDC Self-Checker, an online tool that will walk you through a series of questions about possible COVID-19 symptom questions and next steps.
  • ASTA requests that you provide your mobile phone number within your registration so that we may send in-person attendees a daily health assessment each morning of the live event, to check for any new symptoms that any attendee may be experiencing.
  • If possible, please bring your proof of vaccination card with you to the conference.
  • If you are not vaccinated, there is a free resource to complete a cost-free, at-home COVID test prior to your departure to the conference. You can request yours here. At home COVID tests are also now available for purchase in local pharmacies. 
  • Once on-site, attendees will be asked to show their proof of completion of the very brief daily health-assessment (which will be texted to your phone each morning). Attendees will also be provided a choice of color codes for your badge, indicating either "green," "yellow" or "red" to immediately and non-verbally communicate to those around you as to your comfort level with proximity/social interaction. Green indicates that closer contact is acceptable to you (for example, if you might be already vaccinated), yellow means you're open to social interaction as long as distance and masks are maintained, and red means please keep your distance from me.
  • Review the most current health and travel guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) and the Illinois Regional COVID-19 Metrics being monitored for Chicago's reopening phases. 
  • Be aware of all current travel restrictions and guidance. Many states and jurisdictions have travel guidelines that are subject to change at any time.
  • Again, if you are not feeling well or have a known exposure for someone who is positive for the coronavirus, please stay home in order to help keep everyone safe.