COVID-19 Updates during AGU Fall Meeting

Update as of 31 December (final update):

There were a total of 94 (<1% of all in-person attendees) reported and confirmed COVID-19 cases to AGU that occurred during and after #AGU21. All of these are breakthrough cases of fully vaccinated individuals. AGU notified those close contacts if the individual reporting wasn’t comfortable or didn’t have the contact information for someone they may have been in close contact with.

We supported these individuals with hotel accommodations when they were a part of the AGU housing block. We also secured isolation rooms for attendees who were in shared rooms or booked other housing.

There were no hospitalizations reported. The highest number of cases and highest dates of test positivity were reported 20-22 December. At least 15% of these reports were defined by the attendee as asymptomatic.

All attendees have safely returned to their homes from New Orleans.

There may be cases beyond what has been reported to AGU, including some who may have had asymptomatic infections that were not included in the 94 cases total. AGU is working with the events and meetings industry to provide the lessons learned to help others plan the safest meetings possible.

As a reminder, AGU required every individual to be fully vaccinated if they were in the New Orleans Convention Center (NOCC). This included AGU staff, NOCC staff, security, etc. We also required masks in the NOCC since we rented the entire facility. Restaurants, hotels and other establishments that were visited may not have had similar requirements.

We appreciate those who reported their cases, which was and will remain confidential.

We are also grateful to our community for your continued support for our annual Fall Meeting. We know that many enjoyed the opportunity to attend in-person or online, and we are committed to enhancing and refining the experience for all so that anyone, anywhere can safely attend the meeting.

We look forward to seeing you in Chicago, IL and online everywhere for #AGU22!

Update as of 30 December:
AGU Fall Meeting 2021 has added 2 new reported and confirmed COVID-19 cases. There have been 93 total that have been reported to AGU. All of these are breakthrough cases of fully vaccinated individuals.

After talking with each individual, we have identified and notified those who have been in close contact (as defined by the CDC) with them. These close contact individuals are monitoring their health for potential symptoms.

Update as of 29 December:
AGU Fall Meeting 2021 has added 0 new reported and confirmed COVID-19 cases. There have been 91 total that have been reported to AGU. All of these are breakthrough cases of fully vaccinated individuals.

After talking with each individual, we have identified and notified those who have been in close contact (as defined by the CDC) with them. These close contact individuals are monitoring their health for potential symptoms.

Update as of 28 December:
AGU Fall Meeting 2021 has added 1 new reported and confirmed COVID-19 case. There have been 91 total that have been reported to AGU. All of these are breakthrough cases of fully vaccinated individuals.

After talking with each individual, we have identified and notified those who have been in close contact (as defined by the CDC) with them. These close contact individuals are monitoring their health for potential symptoms.

Update as of 27 December:
AGU Fall Meeting 2021 has added 4 new reported and confirmed COVID-19 cases. There have been 90 total that have been reported to AGU. All of these are breakthrough cases of fully vaccinated individuals.

After talking with each individual, we have identified and notified those who have been in close contact (as defined by the CDC) with them. These close contact individuals are monitoring their health for potential symptoms.

Update as of 24 December:
AGU Fall Meeting 2021 has added 8 new reported and confirmed COVID-19 cases. There have been 86 total that have been reported to AGU. All of these are breakthrough cases of fully vaccinated individuals.

After talking with each individual, we have identified and notified those who have been in close contact (as defined by the CDC) with them. These close contact individuals are monitoring their health for potential symptoms.

Update as of 23 December:
AGU Fall Meeting 2021 has added 16 new reported and confirmed COVID-19 cases. There have been 78 total that have been reported to AGU. All of these are breakthrough cases of fully vaccinated individuals.

After talking with each individual, we have identified and notified those who have been in close contact (as defined by the CDC) with them. These close contact individuals are monitoring their health for potential symptoms.

Update as of 22 December:
AGU Fall Meeting 2021 has added 13 new reported and confirmed COVID-19 cases. There have been 62 total that have been reported to AGU. All of these are breakthrough cases of fully vaccinated individuals.

After talking with each individual, we have identified and notified those who have been in close contact (as defined by the CDC) with them. These close contact individuals are monitoring their health for potential symptoms.

Update as of 21 December:
AGU Fall Meeting 2021 has added 23 new reported and confirmed COVID-19 cases. There have been 49 total that have been reported to AGU. All of these are breakthrough cases of fully vaccinated individuals.

After talking with each individual, we have identified and notified those who have been in close contact (as defined by the CDC) with them. These close contact individuals are monitoring their health for potential symptoms.

We will continue to provide daily updates until 31 December, which will be the 14th day after the last official day of AGU Fall Meeting 2021. The CDC says that “if you are fully vaccinated and become infected…get tested 5-7 days after exposure.”

As a reminder, AGU required every individual to be fully vaccinated if they were in the New Orleans Convention Center (NOCC). This included AGU staff, NOCC staff, security, etc. We also required masks in the NOCC since we rented the entire facility. Restaurants, hotels and other establishments that were visited may not have had similar requirements.

Please contact AGU Meetings Vice President Lauren Parr, [email protected], if you attended #AGU21 in-person and tested positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of the meeting.

Update as of 20 December:

AGU Fall Meeting 2021 has added ten new reported and confirmed COVID-19 cases. There have been twenty-six total.

All of these are breakthrough case of fully vaccinated individuals.

After talking with each individual, we have identified and notified those who have been in close contact with them. These close contact individuals are monitoring their health for potential symptoms.

Reminder: Please contact AGU Meetings Vice President Lauren Parr, [email protected], if you attended #AGU21 and tested positive for COVID-19.

Update as of 18 December:

AGU Fall Meeting 2021 has added seven new reported and confirmed COVID-19 cases. There have been sixteen total.

All of these are breakthrough case of fully vaccinated individuals.

After talking with each individual, we have identified and notified those who have been in close contact with them. These close contact individuals are monitoring their health for potential symptoms.

Update as of 17 December:

AGU Fall Meeting 2021 has added three new reported and confirmed COVID-19 cases. There have been nine total.

All of these are breakthrough case of fully vaccinated individuals.

After talking with each individual, we have identified and notified those who have been in close contact with them. These close contact individuals are monitoring their health for potential symptoms.

All positive and close contact individuals have stopped attending AGU Fall Meeting 2021 in-person. To protect these individual’s privacy, we will not be releasing any additional information.

Now that the meeting is concluding, we will share any pertinent information via From the Prow moving forward.

AGU Fall Meeting 2021 has had an additional five attendees test positive for COVID-19, which is now six total. This is 0.06 percent of our in-person attendees.

All of these are breakthrough case of fully vaccinated individuals.

After talking with each individual, we have identified and notified those who have been in close contact with them. These close contact individuals are monitoring their health for potential symptoms.

All positive and close contact individuals have stopped attending AGU Fall Meeting 2021 in-person. To protect these individual’s privacy, we will not be releasing any additional information.

We anticipate additional cases before the meeting is over. We will share additional information tomorrow via email and this Prow post.

Based on the advice of medical professionals, we remain confident that the meeting’s safety precautions mean there is a low risk that widespread transmission has occurred or will occur. We remind everyone to wear your masks and stay at least 6 feet apart from others.

We continue to share this information to be transparent. We do not want to cause alarm. As a reminder, if you are not feeling well, or develop any symptoms associated with COVID, contact AGU Meetings Vice President Lauren Parr, [email protected], immediately so that we can assist you. Or, please seek medical attention immediately.

PCR testing is available on-site at the Morial Convention Center as well as other locations across New Orleans.

As a reminder, the current CDC guidance for someone who is fully vaccinated and shows no symptoms of COVID-19 says that the individual does not need to quarantine.

However, fully vaccinated individuals who are in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 should:

• Wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until a negative test result.
• Get tested 5-7 days after close contact with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
• Get tested and isolate immediately if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

Thank you for your cooperation as we all work together to keep our families, friends and colleagues safe. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.