Updated: February 24, 2022
What are your current COVID-19 health and safety plans?
All NatCon22 participants must provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 to gain entry to the show. In addition, we have many detailed plans in place to ensure a safe and productive show. View our health and safety plan.
Do I need a vaccine against COVID-19 to attend NatCon22?
Yes – all participants, including exhibitors, at NatCon22 are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. All participants are required to validate their vaccination status through our health check platform, ShareMy.Health, using the email link sent after registration. We will not accept negative COVID-19 tests or antibody tests in lieu of verified vaccination.
By what date do I need to be vaccinated to participate in NatCon22?
We will follow the CDC’s definition of fully vaccinated. Participants are considered fully vaccinated two weeks (14 days) after they have completed either the second dose in a two-dose series (e.g., Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca) or after a single dose of a one-dose vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson). Mixed vaccines will also be accepted (e.g. one dose of Moderna and one dose of Pfizer).
Participants should complete their final vaccine by March 25, 2022, to be considered fully vaccinated for NatCon22. Due to concern about protection against new variants and the safety of our participants, we strongly recommend that you get a booster shot.
Which COVID-19 vaccines will you accept to enter the show?
We will accept CDC and WHO-approved vaccines including a mix of two approved vaccines (e.g., one dose of Moderna and one dose of Pfizer vaccines).
If the vaccine(s) you have received are not listed on the CDC or WHO-approved lists, please contact us at Conference@TheNationalCouncil.org for further clarification.
How do I verify my COVID-19 vaccination?
You must provide proof of full vaccination before you enter NatCon22. NatCon22 is working with ShareMy.Health, a HIPAA- compliant platform that allows registrants to comply with the health and safety protocols for this conference to help ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. All participants need to use ShareMy.Health to provide proof of vaccination prior to arriving at the show.
After you register, ShareMy.Health will be sending you an email with a personalized link to confirm your vaccination status.
Once onsite participants show their Health Pass (green check mark) from ShareMy.Health, and will be issued a NatCon22 wristband, which allows them to print out their badge and access the show floor and meeting spaces seamlessly throughout the event. You will only be required to show your Health Pass again if you require a new wristband. Participants who do not follow this process will not be permitted access to NatCon22 and refunds will not be issued in the event you’re asked to leave for failing to comply with the protocols.
Will my Health Data be secure with ShareMy.Health?
ShareMy.Health does not sell or rent your personal information.
None of your health data is shared without your explicit consent, and is only shared with organizations you approve of through the ShareMy.Health Platform. You can revoke third-party access at any time or cancel your account with ShareMy.Health by contacting us at support@sharemy.health.
Will I also need to provide proof of a COVID-19 booster shot?
No. Fully vaccinated is defined by the CDC as two weeks after a second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.
Can I attend NatCon22 with proof of a negative COVID-19 test or with proof of COVID-19 antibodies?
A negative COVID-19 test or proof of antibodies will not be accepted as a substitution for being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Those with a qualifying medical condition or disability who are unable to be vaccinated will be required to complete the medical exemption form on the ShareMy.Health platform as well as submit a negative COVID-19 test in ShareMy.Health 24 hours before their arrival to NatCon22. Contact us at Conference@TheNationalCouncil.org for testing requirements.
What COVID-19 safety measures are in place at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center?
The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is committed to their Health and Safety Cleanliness Standards.
Additionally, the NatCon22 team plans to run its own daily inspections before, during and after show hours to ensure cleanliness is of the highest standards.
Will I have to wear a mask during NatCon22?
Masks are optional but highly encouranged in the NatCon22 exhibit hall, meeting rooms and all public spaces unless you are actively eating or drinking. If you lose your mask, we will provide you with one.
Is social distancing in place at NatCon22?
Strict social distancing is not a requirement at NatCon22; however, much effort has gone into designing the show to provide plenty of space and comfort for all participants, including larger spaces for lounges and education areas, wider aisles in the exhibit hall, seating areas on the show floor and multiple entrances. Exhibitors are also keeping spacing and comfort in mind when designing their booths.
What will you do if someone tests positive for COVID-19 at the show?
The National Council has clear, well-tested and strict protocols in place in the event of a positive COVID-19 test by a NatCon22 participant, including NatCon22 staff. This includes testing, retesting and evaluation by on-site medical staff.
Under Maryland law, Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center will ask any guest who tests positive to isolate in their hotel room. An individual who tests positive may be permitted to return home if it is safe to do so and appropriate transportation is available. Each hotel has their own protocols in place, and we encourage you to check with your hotel for their most up-to-date procedures.
The NatCon22 team will be in daily communication with the Gaylord National Resort team.
If you do test positive for COVID-19 while attending the show, we encourage you to disclose the information to the NatCon22 team, so we may contact anyone you may have been in close contact with during the show and so that we can support you, to the best of our ability, during your isolation period.
What should I do if I test positive for COVID-19 after the event?
Please contact us at Conference@TheNationalCouncil.org if you test positive for COVID-19 after the event, so we may notify anyone you may have been in close contact with during the show.
What are the costs if I am transferred to a hotel for COVID-19 isolation?
If you’re able to stay in your original hotel and wish to do so, this cost is not covered by NatCon22. We strongly recommend that all participants have up-to-date travel insurance in place for such an eventuality. You are also permitted to return home if it is safe to do so and appropriate transportation is available. Each hotel has their own protocols in place. We encourage you to check with your hotel for their most up-to-date procedures.
Where can I get tested for COVID-19?
We will have an on-site Health Clinic at NatCon22 providing rapid/antigen COVID-19 tests (at participant cost, to be paid directly to ShareMy.Health).
The Health Clinic is open Sunday, April 10, through Tuesday, April 12, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET and Wednesday, April 13, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Appointments are not required. Results are available within 30 minutes.
Will the vaccine mandate apply to move-in and move-out for exhibitors?
Vaccination will not be mandated during move-in and move-out, although every effort will be made to encourage vaccinated staff to participate in the building of booths. After 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 10, only vaccinated staff will be able to access the show floor.
