SHP Conference Policies

Vaccination Requirements

• In the spirit of radical hospitality, we are aligning our Community Health policy with the California Department of Health COVID-19 guidance, which recommends actions that align with common practice of other respiratory viruses.

• Therefore, all conference participants are encouraged to be fully vaccinated (i.e., receive the updated 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine), which remains the most important strategy to prevent serious illness and death from COVID-19.

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Face Mask Requirements

• We encourage all conference participants to wear masks based on their preference and assessment of personal risk while attending the conference.

• Regardless of vaccination status, conference participants who have recently been diagnosed with COVID-19 should wear a high-quality mask while in attendance for 10 days after their isolation period has ended (or after receiving two negative COVID tests at least one day apart).

• Regardless of vaccination status, conference participants who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 10 days should wear a high-quality mask while in attendance through Day 10 of their self-monitoring period.

 

In Case of Illness

• Anyone who is experiencing active COVID-19 symptoms and/or has recently tested positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate until fever-free for 24 hours (without using fever-reducing medication) and other COVID-19 symptoms​ are mild/improving.

• Anyone who develops symptoms while at the conference will be asked to leave immediately and consult a medical provider about next steps. Attendees who are symptomatic will be asked to return to their hotel for the duration of the conference and communicate with the hotel to ensure the safety of others around them.

• Conference organizers will immediately notify conference attendees upon learning of any potential direct exposure to an individual testing positive for COVID-19. Red Bluff Community Center will also be notified if it is believed that any staff members may have been exposed. Appropriate actions consistent with the steps outlined in the present document will be taken to mitigate additional risk of exposure.

• The California Department of Health will be consulted if further direction is required regarding responding appropriately to conference attendees testing positive for COVID-19.

• Full or partial refunds of the registration fee (less the cost of processing fees, conference dinner, and registration materials) will be provided to any conference attendees who are unable to attend all or part of the conference due to illness.

 

Additional Precautions

• Time for meals will be built into the conference schedule while no programs are taking place. This will allow for the option to eat meals away from the main conference space without missing any programs.

• Red Bluff Community Center staff will be consulted to confirm that ventilation systems are operating properly and obtain information about other options for increasing circulation of outdoor air (e.g., determining whether any windows and doors can be opened during the conference).

• Any updates to this policy and/or changes to local travel requirements or COVID-19 community levels will be communicated via the conference website and/or by email.

• When registering for the SHP 2026 conference, all attendees will be asked to agree that they will act in accordance with this policy as a show of care and respect to the rest of the SHP community. Attendees will also be asked to acknowledge that by attending the conference, they are assuming personal responsibility for their own health and well-being.

• Any COVID-19-related questions can be addressed to Don Domenici (ddprime@hotmail.com).