More and more of us are staying home to avoid catching the virus. This is a shame, because going to conferences is a great way to make professional connections. Thankfully, there are a few ways to attend conferences while keeping yourself safe from the covid pandemic. If you’re not feeling any symptoms, you should be able to attend a conference without any risk.
Why Attend Conferences?
So, why should you attend conferences during the pandemic? It’s good to network. Of course, this goes without saying, but when you’re trying to get a job, networking is a major part of the process. Most conferences are being canceled left and right, so your choices may be slim. But, many have embraced this new world and have transitioned to online conferences. Not all conferences work in an online format, but for the lucky ones, this is a great way to still attend.
Symptoms and How to Stay Safe
If you’re exhibiting symptoms, the CDC has a great summary of how to stay healthy: If you’re at-risk of getting the flu, be aware that the symptom of the flu in its most severe form is most common and lasts three to four days. This kind of flu can be fatal. Flu symptoms are more common in those younger than 50, including children under 5 years old, adults 65 years and older, and pregnant women. Most people with the flu have fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in young children than adults. People with the flu are most contagious from four days before symptoms begin to four days after they start to feel better.
The Best Tips To Keep Yourself Safe And Healthy At Conferences
It can be tricky to determine whether you’re actually sick or have a cold, so below I’ve put together a few tips for keeping yourself healthy and safe at conferences. Avoid handshakes! People at conferences can catch everything from the flu to common colds, so you don’t want to share them with the world. It’s an interesting fact that last year more than one million people in the U.S. were infected with influenza. So no matter how many amazing speeches and new ideas you’ve heard, you probably don’t need to be exposed to the disease.
The next best step is to not go! We don’t mean to ignore conferences, but to stay home and go online. The in-person conferences are still unsafe. So if there is no online option, it’s best to stay home.