The 2021 Gulf Coast Chapter Meeting of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society scheduled for November 6-7 at the Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, Marcus Tower, 1968 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30309 is still a go! We are watching the impact of the COVID-19 Delta variant within the US and around the world with great interest and we are regularly monitoring US federal government, Georgia state government, and the Atlanta city government COVID-19 websites for changes to travel and group gathering policies/recommendations/restrictions.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALL LIVE UHMS MEETINGS

We do not know the COVID-19 vaccination status of any of the registrants and we cannot require all attendees to be vaccinated. UHMS leadership is concerned with meeting attendees' health during and after our meeting and are recommending the following actions during any of the live UHMS meetings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
 

• All attendees wear a protective face covering while inside the meeting venue
• Practice physical distancing during the meeting
• Regularly and thoroughly wash hands or use an alcohol-based hand rub

We are excited about our fin-person meetings in more than two years. We want everyone in attendance to enjoy the program and social events. We also want to ensure all attendees are protected from the COVID-19 virus. Following the above prevention steps during the meetings will significantly aid in protecting all.

FACE COVERING AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING RECOMMENDATIONS

• Get your COVID-19 vaccine: Get your COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself and others from getting sick. Guidance for fully vaccinated people.
• Wear a face mask in public: Covering your nose and mouth with a face mask greatly reduces your chances of spreading the virus and also provides some protection for you. Use face coverings if you'll be indoors or around other people where social distancing is difficult to maintain. CDC guidance on cloth face coverings.
• Wash your hands frequently: Washing your hands with regular soap and water for at least 20 seconds is effective in stopping the spread of COVID-19. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer liberally. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. More handwashing tips.
• Move at least 6 feet away from others: COVID-19 can spread among people who are in close contact for a prolonged period of time. Avoid public spaces where close contact with others may occur. If you are around other people, stay at least 6 feet away from them. CDC guidance on social distancing.

TRAVEL TO GEORGIA:

There are no restrictions for travel to, from, or within Georgia. All residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to follow public health safety measures.

Your home state or country may have restrictions in place. Find out what applies to you before you travel.

If you are driving through Georgia, please follow the Georgia Department of Transportation for information about traffic, lane closures, and rest areas. If you are traveling from Georgia to another state, please be aware of the public health safety measures and local laws there.

COVID-19: Information for Travelers

• Georgia Department of Public Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• S. Department of State
• S. Customs and Border Protection

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is open. Please visit the airport’s website for flight, parking, and ground transportation information.

All air passengers entering the United States from abroad are required to test negative for COVID-19. If you are entering from outside the country and aren’t a U.S. citizen or authorized U.S. resident, additional restrictions may apply.

Ports of entry into the United States, including airports, are not overseen by the State of Georgia.

RESTRICTED ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES

As of 13 August 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website titled "Travelers Prevented from Entry into the United States" identifies those countries currently restricted from allowing their citizens from entering the United States due to COVID-19 conditions in those countries (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html). With specific exceptions, several Presidential proclamations suspend and limit entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of noncitizens who were physically present within the following countries during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States. For a full list of exceptions, please refer to the relevant proclamations in the links below.

• China
• Iran
• European Schengen area(Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City)
• United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
• Republic of Ireland
• Brazil
• South Africa
• India

As further provided in each proclamation, citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States, certain family members, and other individuals who meet specified exceptions, who have been in one of the countries listed above in the past 14 days will be allowed to enter the United States. More information about what to do after arriving to the United States is available on CDC’s After International Travel webpage.

The US State Department website offers additional details on restricted entry into the United States (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/covid-19-travel-restrictions-and-exceptions.html).