COVID-19 Pandemic Update 2
As you are likely already aware, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic, and now there are many restrictions on travel and in-person convening.
The health and safety of our event participants are of paramount importance to IEEE. We will continue to monitor travel advisories issued by WHO and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as well as heed the guidance of local and regional authorities. We will continue to work with our partners at Sheraton Boston Hotel at Copley Place, Boston, Massachusetts, USA to remain current on the city’s preparedness to deal with any needs.
Additionally, at this time, the Organizing Committee of The 2020 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM 2020) scheduled for 6 – 10 July 2020 is discussing the potential to postpone this year’s event, or hold a virtual meeting event should that become a necessity. This decision will be reached after carefully considering all available information and consulting with the event’s sponsors. At this time, we expect to be able to provide an update on our plans on or before 5 May 2020.
Travel Booking Guidance
At this time, we encourage you to book a flight that offers a refund or no change fee, or to hold off until a decision is reached. Some airlines may offer refunds if travel is canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please check with your airline provider for details.
It is unlikely that travel insurance coverage will apply to the cancellation of your trip due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please read all travel insurance policies thoroughly.
Travel Guidelines
We urge all travelers to keep informed on risks, precautions, and symptoms to make educated decisions. Travelers can check for updated information on the following sites:
- World Health Organization’s website on the COVID-19 pandemic: (https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus)
- Centers for Disease Control’s reference materials: (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html)
- S. Department of State COVID-19 Travel Advisories: (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html)
