Health & Safety

EVENT POLICY

IRI is committed to protecting the health and safety of all 2022 IRI Annual Conference attendees. By registering for and/or attending the conference, attendees agree to comply with this Health and Safety Policy.

We are closely monitoring CDC guidelines, federal and local mandates, and health and safety measures put in place by the hotel. Because these factors are frequently changing, we will continue to evaluate whether any changes should be made to this Health and Safety Policy, and we expressly reserve the right to update entry requirements for the conference based on the public health situation, new or revised guidance issued by the CDC or other authorities, changes in legal requirements or venue requirements, and/or other relevant considerations. This page will be updated to reflect any changes to this Health and Safety Policy.

IMPORTANT UPDATE

Illness and positive COVID-19 protocol while attending the IRI 2022 Annual Conference

Step 1: If you become ill while attending the conference, please take a COVID-19 rapid test as soon as possible. Until you take a rapid test, you must refrain from attending conference events and wear a mask in public places. IRI will have a supply of rapid tests available for delivery to your hotel room upon request. Please do not come to the registration desk.

Step 2: If you test positive for COVID-19 while attending the conference, you must promptly notify IRI, and continue to wear a mask in public places and refrain from attending conference events. Local resources that may be useful if you become ill or test positive for COVID-19 onsite are listed at the bottom of this webpage.

If you test negative for COVID-19 after becoming ill while attending the conference, please use your best judgment to determine whether you should resume attending conference events and/or continue to wear a mask in public places, bearing in mind both your own health and safety as well as the health and safety of other conference attendees.

Step 3: Upon receipt of notification that an attendee has tested positive for COVID-19, a designated IRI staff person will contact the individual via phone or email to gather relevant health and safety information, and to provide assistance and support as appropriate.

Step 4: Within 24 hours after receiving any such notification, IRI will communicate the fact that one or more attendees has tested positive for COVID-19 to conference attendees through the conference app and/or other means.

Updated May 4, 2022

Entry Requirement

All attendees at the 2022 IRI Annual Conference must provide either:

Proof of negative COVID-19 test (either PCR or antigen) taken within 48 hours of arrival to the conference

OR

Proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 by the time they arrive to the conference. “Fully vaccinated” means either two weeks have passed since receiving the second dose of an FDA- or WHO-authorized double-dose COVID-19 vaccine or two weeks have passed since receiving the one dose of an FDA- or WHO-authorized single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. Consistent with CDC guidance, attendees are strongly encouraged to have received a COVID-19 vaccine booster as soon as they are eligible for one, although it is not currently a requirement for entry to the conference.

Submit Proof of Vaccination or Negative Test

All attendees are required to show a photo ID plus ONE of the following acceptable proofs of COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID test at the onsite IRI registration desk:

Original CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card showing which COVID-19 vaccine you received, the dates(s) received, and where received
Electronic or printed copy of your original CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (digital picture on your phone, for example, is acceptable)
Electronic COVID-19 vaccination proof via built-in smartphone app such as Apple Wallet (iOS 15.1)
A printout from your state health department’s immunization information system (IIS) showing your completed COVID-19 vaccination schedule
State-based COVID-19 proof-of-vaccination app such as New York’s Excelsior Pass or MyIRMobile
Electronic or printed copy of a negative COVID-19 test from a laboratory or healthcare or test provider*
*A COVID-19 self-test sometimes referred to as a “home test” is ONLY acceptable if it is a proctored test in which the results are issued via email or through the provider’s patient platform app (i.e., Abbott’s NAVICA app)

Any attendee who is unable to provide acceptable proof of vaccination or proof of negative test will be unable to collect their registration credentials and will be denied entrance to the conference. The only exception to this policy will be religious or medical reasons. When this occurs, specific health protocols must be followed; otherwise, attendees will not be admitted. This policy is designed to create a safe experience for attendees and our staff. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Masks

In accordance with local guidance in Washington, DC, protective masks are now optional indoors. At this time, IRI does not intend to require attendees to wear protective masks while attending the conference.

All attendees should feel safe and comfortable while attending the conference. To this end, all attendees must be respectful of the mask-wearing and social-distancing preferences of their fellow attendees. Masks will be available at registration if needed.

Be Well Policy

A risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any event or public space, including the 2022 IRI Annual Conference. By attending the conference, you are confirming that you:

Are fully vaccinated (as defined above) or have taken and received a negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours of arrival (as described above)
Are not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 identified by the CDC
Are not under any self-quarantine orders
Acknowledge and will abide by this Health and Safety Policy as well as all applicable regulations and health and safety protocols

To provide a safe environment for attendees, IRI may take immediate action with respect to any attendee who fails to comply with any of the requirements set forth herein. Such action may include, but are not limited to, denial of entrance to the conference or removal of the non-compliant attendee from the conference. Unless otherwise determined by IRI in its sole discretion, any attendee who is denied entrance to or removed from the conference based on this policy will not be eligible for a refund of any registration fees paid or any other expenses incurred in connection with attendance at the conference.

COVID-19 Testing

Although not required, attendees are encouraged to consider taking a COVID-19 test before traveling to the conference. You may transfer your registration to another colleague from your company if you are unable to join us in person and need to cancel after April 8. To transfer your registration to someone else, please email us.

Contact Tracing

Attendees are encouraged to consider enrolling in the District of Columbia’s free DC COVID Alert Notice (DC CAN) to help with contact tracing efforts. DC CAN uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to quickly notify users who have likely been exposed so you can reduce the risk of infection.

Social Distancing & Food and Beverage Service

We kindly ask that all attendees respect other attendees’ comfort level when interacting. Food service may be modified to meet local mandates and hotel guidelines. Such modifications may include, but may not be limited to, reduced seating at tables in meal functions, individual serving portions, elimination of self-service, etc.

Cleaning Measures

The Marriott has increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfection, particularly in areas with high traffic. They are also utilizing enhanced technologies, including electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectants, to support their already rigorous cleanliness protocols.

Hand sanitation stations will also be available throughout the hotel.

Local Resources

Below is a list of nearby, rental car, pharmacies, COVID testing locations and urgent medical care facilities. Please note, the hours are subject to change. We recommend calling the location to verify their current hours.

CVS Pharmacy Locations
655 K Street, Washington, DC 20001 (.04 miles away)
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20004 (1.1 miles away)
6 Dupont Circle NW, Washington, DC 20036 (1.4 miles away)
2240 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 (1.7 miles away)
Please visit the CVS Pharmacy website to see the current hours for each location and to schedule an appointment in advance. Walk-in appointments are based on availability.

George Washington Immediate & Primary Care (GW IPC) McPherson Square
1101 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
202-798-0100
Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, CLOSED (Note: The Cleveland Park and Rhode Island Ave locations are open on Sundays; information is accessible via the link above)
No appointment is currently necessary for COVID-19 testing.

One Medical
1001 G Street NW, Suite 200 East, Washington, DC 20001 (Metro Center)
1627 I Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 2006 (Farragut Square)
888-663-6331
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed on Weekends
Appointment required. Click on the link above for direct booking instructions.

Rental Car Agencies

Below is a list of nearby rental car agencies. Please note, the hours are subject to change. We recommend calling the location to verify their current hours.

Hertz Car Rental
999 9th St NW
202-842-1541
Distance from Marriott: 0.1 miles (located inside the Renaissance Hotel)
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sunday, CLOSED
Book Online

Enterprise Rent-a-Car
1110 14th St NW
202-393-0900
Distance from Marriott: 0.6 miles
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sunday, CLOSED
Book Online

Avis/Budget Car Rental
1908 L St NW
202-887-4759
Distance from Marriott: 1.1 miles
Daily, 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Book Online

We recommend using an airport location (IAD or DCA/Reagan) should you need to rent a car outside of these hours. Note, not all rental car agencies are staffed 24 hours a day at either airport.

Waiver and Release

Together with the hotel, IRI has taken preventative measures to reduce the spread of communicable disease including COVID-19 (“communicable disease”) at the conference. However, attendees acknowledge that IRI cannot guarantee that they will not be exposed to or contract a communicable disease at the conference and understand the risk that they may be exposed to or infected by a communicable disease by attending the conference. By registering for and/or attending the conference, attendees knowingly and freely assume all such risks, both known and unknown, and assume full personal responsibility for their attendance at the conference. In doing so, attendees forever release IRI, the hotel, and all of their directors, officers, employees, and agents from liability should they become ill, directly or indirectly, as a result of attendance at the conference.