We understand that many of you have concerns about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). NAPA wants to be as transparent as possible and share information about how we are following developments relating to COVID-19 and what we are doing to prepare for the 2020 NAPA 401(k) Summit.
Importantly, the NAPA 401(k) Summit is currently proceeding as scheduled April 26-28, 2020, in Orlando, FL. Advance registration is well ahead of the 2019 conference and we anticipate over 1,100 advisors and more than 2,500 attendees.
We have been in direct contact with the staff of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. They have confirmed that the U.S. government, to date, has not issued any restrictions on conducting or participating in large events in the United States. It is the view of the Task Force, which also reflects the view of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), that at this time there is minimal risk to attendees of conferences, or other large events such as sporting events, concerts, or other similar venues that host large crowds.
We also want to stress that this is an extremely fluid situation and NAPA will continue to actively monitor it and take actions as warranted. The CDC and HHS are also recommending preventative protocols for large events, which we will be following as appropriate and as outlined below.
Situation Monitoring
- NAPA is committed to hosting a safe and successful conference. Our top priority is the health and safety of all participants, including attendees, sponsors, exhibitors, staff, industry partners, and others involved in the conference.
- The CDC has publicly deemed the health risk of COVID-19 for the general American public to be low at this time.
- NAPA is actively monitoring CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) updates for further information.
- NAPA staff is working closely with our hotel partner, Loews, Universal Orlando, and local Florida authorities to evaluate the situation and implement best practices.
Pre-conference Guidance
- NAPA is following, and advises that all travelers review, recommendations from the CDC and Florida Department of Health.
- The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) is working closely with all of its federal and local partners to monitor the developments of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). GOAA has a response plan in place for the Orlando International (MCO) and Orlando Executive (ORL) Airports, which would be activated in the event that an infected individual is identified while traveling through the airports. Current measures being used to maintain the safety, health and well-being of employees and passengers are on MCO’s website.
Onsite Plans for NAPA 401(k) Summit
We encourage all participants, including exhibitors and attendees, to take common-sense precautions by following WHO and CDC guidelines when they are onsite at the show, such as:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Maintain social distancing (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
To help support these efforts, we are encouraging attendees and exhibitors to engage in a ‘touch-free’ conference at NAPA 401(k) Summit this year. This includes:
- Adoption of a no-handshake policy.
- Reducing the exchange of business cards by utilizing the NAPA 401(k) Summit App to make business connections.
- Encouraging exhibitors to utilize the touchless lead retrieval system to gather contact information from attendees electronically. Using a radio-frequency ID chip embedded in each conference badge, exhibit hall sponsors (with the attendee’s permission) are able to scan badges of their exhibit hall visitors, eliminating the need to exchange business cards.
In addition, onsite at NAPA 401(k) Summit:
- There will be an increased number of hand sanitation sites surrounding conference venues and staff, providing alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- There will be more frequent wipe-downs by hotel, conference and park staff of all common touch areas, such as doorknobs, lecterns, microphones, light switches, escalator rails, trash receptacles, elevator buttons, water stations, and bathroom areas.
- The hotel catering department will ensure that all health department protocols are followed.
- During the conference, we will provide a designated First Aid/EMT area staffed by credentialed health care professionals for attendees onsite at NAPA 401(k) Summit. Any attendee who develops symptoms should go to the First Aid/EMT area for assessment to determine the most appropriate course of action.
- If you are onsite at NAPA 401(k) Summit and you are feeling feverish or have other flu-like symptoms, please do not participate in large conference activities until you have sought proper medical attention and have been cleared to do so.