Duty of Care

MDLA is following the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control regarding in person gatherings. We are fully committed to taking the appropriate precautions to provide a safe and healthy environment for attendees. We encourage our attendees to work with us to help make this happen.

MDLA staff will execute the following best practices to help attendees stay healthy and to reduce exposure and risk:

• Provide sanitizing and disinfection material for general attendee use
• Increase cleaning and disinfection across high-volume common areas
• Monitor recommendations from the relevant health authorities including the Centers for Disease Control and local government and city officials.
• Encourage attendees to adopt some best practices in order to act in their own best interest and in the best interest of their fellow attendees.

By attending the MDLA Trial Techniques Seminar you agree to abide by and engage in certain health-and-safety-beneficial conduct while attending the event. This may include, but is not limited to, submitting to temperature checks, wearing a mask indoors unless actively eating or drinking, wearing a mask if unvaccinated, engaging in appropriate physical distancing, and not attending the event if you are ill or have been recently exposed to COVID-19.

Attendees are asked to manage their own preparedness and behavior as well:

• If you are feeling feverish or coughing prior to arriving at the conference, please stay home.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing you nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
• Maintain social distancing
• Disinfect personal items such as cell phones

You may also want to:

• Consider the adoption of a no-handshake policy
• Be considerate of fellow attendees and exercise good judgement
• And most of all, if you are feverish or coughing, please do not attend the conference or please notify MDLA staff if you begin to feel this while at the conference.

MDLA Conference Set up:

The Trial Techniques Seminar will be following the CDC recommendations for large gatherings for the conference set up. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Tables and chairs will be set further apart to provide ample space between attendees.
• Masks will not be required indoors, but are strongly recommended if you have not yet been vaccinated.
• Hand sanitizing stations will be provided throughout the concourse
• MDLA will be handing out prepackaged registration bags (which includes your lanyard, badge, schedule, sponsor items, etc.) in which attendees will pick up on their way into the conference.
• Additional signage and directions will be present to help guide, direct and remind attendees.
• Food service will be done in a safe manner, this may include individually served buffet meals, grab and go items, boxed lunches, use of disposable items etc.

If you develop symptoms while attending the conference, please notify MDLA staff immediately and they will provide next steps. Should you need immediate medical attention, the nearest hospital is St. Luke’s Hospital located at 915 E 1st St. Duluth, MN 55805.

MDLA Offsite Venues:

We are excited to partner with great vendors throughout the conference and want to ensure you of their safety standards. Please see below for information on what the hotels, DECC and offsite event venues are doing to keep you safe.

Inn on Lake Superior Protocols: https://theinnonlakesuperior.com/covid-19-response/
Pier B: https://www.pierbresort.com/covid-response/
DECC: https://decc.org/blog/2020/03/04/coronavirus-information/