COVID-19 Health and Safety

AAGL Safety Statement

AAGL considers the safety of all those onsite at AAGL’s Global Congress, a top priority. Please be sure to abide by and review AAGL’s code of conduct and personal accountability commitment.

AAGL is working closely with the Austin Convention Center, vendor partners, and hotels to create a COVID-19 safety plan for this year’s meeting which will continue to evolve, incorporating any features and updates that will further enhance the onsite experience and safety for everyone in attendance.

AAGL will also continue to monitor the current health situation and update this information as needed.

Personal Accountability Statement

By attending and participating in the AAGL 50th Global Congress on MIGS, November 14-17, 2021 in Austin, TX, you agree to abide by and engage in certain health-and-safety-beneficial conduct while attending the event. This may include submitting to CDC health assessment check, wearing a mask and, engaging in appropriate physical distancing.  We ask you do not attend the event if you are ill or have been recently exposed or experience symptoms of COVID-19.

On-site Safety Precautions

These include but are not limited to the following:

• All attendees, exhibitors, faculty and staff may be required to wear a mask while attending all AAGL Congress activities. Plan on bringing a mask to the meeting. If a mask is misplaced or forgotten, one will be provided.
• Refrain from attending any meeting activities if you have signs or symptoms of COVID-19, or if you think you may have been recently exposed to someone with COVID-19.
• Hand sanitizer stations will be located throughout the Austin Convention Center, exhibit hall and at the hotels.
• All are requested to follow appropriate social distancing practices and remain 6 feet apart from others. AAGL will continue to work with the Austin Convention Center to ensure that the AAGL Global Congress complies with state and local physical distancing requirements throughout the meeting spaces and the exhibit hall.
• Frequent hand washing by all is encouraged.
• Restrooms will be regularly and thoroughly disinfected during event hours.
• A daily and frequent disinfecting routine will be followed throughout the Austin Convention Center in meeting spaces, during event hours, overnight, and during peak attendance, and include “frequently touched” equipment, machines, meeting spaces, chairs and public areas.
• Trash will be removed within public areas with greater frequency.

Exhibitor Recommended Best Practices

AAGL is providing these best practices for exhibitors to maintain health and safety guidelines during Exhibit hall hours:

• Exhibitor personnel may be required to wear masks.
• Practice safe distancing inside booth areas.
• Utilizing and positioning seating to accommodate for social distancing.
• Providing hand sanitizer in booths.
• If serving food, by working with the Austin Convention Center official catering provider, to ensure proper food safety and handling are followed.

The City of Austin Is Ready to Welcome You Back – Safely!

Information on COVID-19 resources in the city of Austin can be found on the Visit Austin Health and Safety page, which is updated regularly as additional information from community partners is collected.

The Austin Convention Center

The Austin Convention Center has achieved Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. The CNS will follow the dedicated action plan for the Austin Convention Center and adhere to guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control, the city of Austin, and the state of Texas. More detail is listed below.

Austin Convention Center Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ Accreditation

The Austin Convention Center has achieved Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, the Austin Convention Center Department has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention for the facility. GBAC rating is the gold standard for prepared facilities. The CNS will follow the dedicated action plan for the Austin Convention Center and adhere to guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control, the city of Austin, and the state of Texas. More detail is listed below.

As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response, and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR™ helps organizations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training, and assesses a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations. The program will verify that the Austin Convention Center Department is implementing best practices to prepare the staff and buildings for future meetings and events.

“The GBAC STAR™ facility accreditation is a performance-based program that certifies that the Austin Convention Center continues to protect our staff and visitors, as we are equipped and ready to safely welcome back in-person events,” said Trisha Tatro, Austin Convention Center Department Interim Director. “Our staff has worked extremely hard to operate using specific procedures and protocols to best prepare, protect, and recover from outbreaks and pandemics.”

To achieve GBAC STAR™ accreditation, the Austin Convention Center will demonstrate compliance with the program’s 20 core elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures. Learn more about GBAC STAR accreditation at www.gbac.org.

Along with reaching a higher level of cleaning and disinfection, the Austin Convention Center Department has purchased new sanitation equipment and uses the following products:

• Stearns® ONE PACKS Mark E II Disinfectant/Deodorizer and multipurpose, neutral pH, hospital-grade quaternary, a one-step germicide, detergent, deodorizer, fungicide, and virucide
• Four Sentry 4 UV stand-alone disinfection machines that emit full spectrum UV light to eliminate up to 99.9% of the bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the space, and limit the growth of fungi
• Handheld electrostatic sprayers: Victory Sprayers’ patented technology provides an electrical charge to solutions, allowing them to wrap conductive surfaces with an effective and even coverage; these machines reduce cross-contamination due to their touchless application
• Equipment will be sanitized before the start of each event and at the end of each day
• Handwashing stations will be available to use in the exhibit halls and on the loading dock
• Hand sanitizer stations have been increased and include foot-operated stands for use in the back areas of the facility during move-ins and entries to the center.

Global  Congress Hotel Partners Commitment to Clean Statements:

JW Marriott/Marriott Austin: https://clean.marriott.com/
Hilton: https://meetings.hilton.com/eventready
Hyatt Place: https://www.hyatt.com/info/global-care-and-cleanliness-commitment