We would like to provide an update on the plans for the PASC21 Conference (July 5 to 8, 2021), which will combine content from the postponed PASC20 together with new contributions. Because of the uncertainty of the current situation, the format of the conference is still to be determined. We are considering hosting PASC21 as a hybrid or fully-virtual event, and are currently in a phase of evaluation that will lead us to an informed decision on the final event format.
Prospective PASC21 speakers whose contributions have already been confirmed for presentation in July 2021 (contributions rolled over from PASC20) have been invited to participate in a survey about the possibility of organizing the conference as either a hybrid or fully-virtual event. We acknowledge the wide variety of sensitivities and personal circumstances on this topic. We are grateful for the concerns and input that you shared, and will be considering these points as we move forward. The situation itself is fast evolving and we welcomed the unexpected news of the vaccines at the end of last year. For this reason, we will be surveying our prospective audience at least once more before taking a final decision.
In the event of a hybrid conference, attendees participating in person would be required to comply with safety measures according to governmental regulations, as well as with the health protection plan implemented by the organizing committee in collaboration with the University of Geneva and the local medical office.
As you can read on the conference website, the PASC21 Organizing Committee plans to communicate a decision on the format in March. The decision will be based on the response of prospective participants, an internal evaluation process, and the statistics related to the number of daily infections and hospitalizations.