Dear EAHP Congress Participants and Sponsors,

We would like to ask you for your attention concerning important information about the upcoming 25th EAHP Congress.

In relation to the current novel coronavirus epidemiologic situation, we want to assure you that EAHP is taking the proper precautions related to the COVID-19. Safety is a major priority for the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists and EAHP is in close contact with the relevant health authorities, as well as the congress centre.

We currently have NO plans to postpone or cancel the congress. We sincerely thank our exhibitors and participants who continue to register and plan for our event.

As of January 27, the World Health Organization's recommendation is that travellers practice usual precautions. Accordingly, the EAHP 2020 Congress is proceeding as planned. We encourage you to become familiar with the to-date World Health Organization's suggested safety precautions and check the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control website for more information.

In addition, a press conference was held on 4 March 2020 in Sweden and the public health authority has not changed its risk assessment for the corona virus or imposed any additional travel restrictions.

We advise you to always exercise common sense and good judgment when traveling and attending the EAHP 2020 in Gothenburg.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVICE FOR THE PARTICIPANTS

To help prevent the spread of viral respiratory diseases, including the flu and COVID-19, follow these measures:

• Avoid close contact with people who appear to be ill.
• Carry details of any medications and allergies with you.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Use single-use paper towels or warm air dryer.
• EAHP will be providing alcohol-based hand sanitizers which will be placed in your congress bags. We ask that you please carry and use them all the time.
• People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette:
• Maintain distance
• Cover your mouth and nose using tissues when coughing or sneezing; or cough or sneeze into an arm rather than your hands
• Tissues should be thrown in the bin after use
• Wash your hands
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals.
• Don't leave drinks or food unattended.
• People with no respiratory symptoms, such as cough, do not need to wear a medical mask. Only wear a mask if you are ill with COVID-19 symptoms (especially coughing) or looking after someone who may have COVID-19. Disposable face mask can only be used once. If you are not ill or looking after someone who is ill then you are wasting a mask. There is a world-wide shortage of masks, so WHO urges people to use masks wisely.

EAHP will be taking the below precautionary measures during the congress

• EAHP is providing personal hand sanitizer in all congress bags.
• The congress centre has assured that the ventilation of the event location is appropriate.
• Provision of active information to the participants about general measures of infection protection such as hand hygiene, keeping a distance if one has a cough or cold
• Participants will be asked to complete a form stating their recent travel and whether that travel was to/from high-risk regions.
• Session rooms will have at least 1 metre or some type of division between chairs inside the regular seminar session rooms so that participants are not sitting directly next to each other.
• Should someone be diagnosed with the COVID-19 during the congress, we will follow the Public Health Agency of Sweden´s recommendations. The person will be asked to contact/call 1177 (Vårdguiden) and they will support with health advice including what tests may need to be administered. Any further actions will be dependent on the regional health official.
• The congress centre will provide signs and instructions on general preventive measures to prevent the potential spread of infection
• Public toilets will be cleaned more frequently.
• Disinfectants and soaps are available in all toilets
• Stations with disinfectants are located at entrances
• Medically trained staff will be available

WHO does not recommend any specific health measures for travellers. In case of symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness either during or after travel, travellers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their health care provider. In addition, EAHP requests that participants advise us should they be diagnosed with the coronavirus so we may let all who attended the congress know.

Additionally, if you have returned from China, South Korea, Singapore or regions of Lombardi and Veneto in Italy or any other region with confirmed incidence of COVID-19 and you develop a fever and/or signs of respiratory infection, please contact your primary care provider prior to going to the doctor's office, urgent care or emergency department.

It is important that we focus on the facts and act with common sense and sound judgement. EAHP will take all necessary measures to ensure the risk is limited but indeed EAHP cannot guarantee 100% that there will be no risk and therefore each participant is solely responsible for the consequences resulting from his/her participation to the congress given the current circumstances. Please do consider your current health status in relation to the current epidemiologic situation.

Please visit our web site at www.eahp.eu as we will be updating it as we receive news.

We look forward to seeing you in Gothenburg and wish all the best during this challenging time.

For all emergencies onsite, please check in with the paramedic in the Congress centre or call the first aid number dial +46 (0)31 708 8170.

Other emergency numbers:
- For healthcare inquiries: 1177
- For other emergencies: 112

For more information, please visit the following websites:

Public Health Agency of Sweden: https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/the-public-health-agency-of-sweden/ 

Embassy of Sweden: https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/about-sweden-non-swedish-citizens/

EAHP website: www.eahp.eu