Health and Safety Policy

Health and Safety Policy

At ALTA, community is our priority, and our goal is to create a safe and positive ALTA conference in Tucson this fall by reducing health risks and acting out of care for ourselves and others. Making the conference more accessible to disabled and immunocompromised participants helps keep all of us safer and healthier. We ask that you join us by upholding the guidelines below, which were endorsed by the ALTA Board of Directors COVID Task Force on May 12, 2023, for the in-person ALTA46 conference in Tucson this fall. 

At ALTA, we recognize that guidelines around COVID-19 may change as the public health situation fluctuates. Please check back for updates.

Recent Health and Safety Updates

Arizona Department of Health Services

University of Arizona COVID-19 Response

Policies and Recommendations

Masks: Masks will be required in all ALTA-reserved hotel spaces (for panels, roundtables, keynote address, etc.). (Exceptions may be made if a participant cannot wear a mask due to sensory or medical issues.) Panelists and readers may choose to unmask when speaking only. In public indoor hotel spaces, masks are strongly encouraged. When serving food and beverages, ALTA will endeavor to utilize outdoor spaces at the conference hotel whenever feasible. ALTA will also make masks available for attendee use. 

Travel to Tucson: We ask that everyone do what they can to keep the group safe by testing before traveling to Tucson, if possible, and recommend masking (with a medical-grade surgical, KN95, or N95 mask) in indoor areas and enclosed spaces while in transit. 

Self-Wellness Assessment: All attendees are asked to self-assess for COVID-related symptoms before attending ALTA events and, if possible, to self-test. Attendees should stay home or stay in their hotel room in Tucson if they have tested positive for COVID-19, are waiting for COVID-19 test results, have COVID-19 symptoms, or if they have had close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19. If you aren’t feeling well or aren’t sure, please stay home or in your room. 

Vaccination: ALTA strongly recommends all attendees be vaccinated against COVID-19 and boosted as recommended. At this time, per national and regional guidelines for large gatherings, proof of vaccination is encouraged but not required.

Additional Information

Acknowledgment of Risk: By registering for and/or attending any portion of ALTA46 in Tucson, attendees acknowledge all of the risks associated with the contagious and evolving nature of COVID-19, and accept sole responsibility for any expense, liability, illness, injury, harm, or loss related to contracting the virus while traveling to/from and attending ALTA events. Attendees agree to release, covenant not to sue, discharge, and hold harmless ALTA’s staff, Board, volunteers, contractors, partners, participants, and representatives from all claims of any kind arising out of COVID-19. 

Partner Venues: Please note that any public events or programming will be subject to the partner venue’s current COVID policy. Some events will take place in community venues such as the Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre. (Read the theatre’s COVID-19 guidelines here.) It may also be helpful to know that Tucson has many outdoor restaurant spaces.

Hotel Protocols and Practices: You can read the Marriott's pandemic-related protocols and practices on their website. The Marriott’s “Commitment to Clean” includes Enhanced Public Space Cleaning, among other measures.

Refunds: Conference registration sales are final and nonrefundable, and may not be transferred to another individual. If you are unsure of whether you would like to attend the conference, we encourage you to wait to purchase in case your plans change. Registration rates and deadlines can be found on our website.