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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Dear CEDAR Community,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">One of the most cherished aspects of CEDAR is a sense of community. Our community includes people with greater potential risks from COVID such as elders, parents
of children too young to be vaccinated, people who are immunocompromised, people with respiratory illnesses, and those living with people who are more vulnerable. Additionally, anyone could experience longer term symptoms of COVID-19<sup>1</sup>. Rates of
long COVID are estimated to be about 10%, and vaccination reduces but does not eliminate the risk of long COVID<sup>2</sup>. Repeated infections further increase the risk of organ system damage<sup>3</sup> and long COVID<sup>4</sup> . <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Unfortunately, conferences are still high-risk environments for COVID-19 transmission (e.g., the recent, spring CDC conference<sup>5</sup>). We know that we travel
at our own risk, so we invite all those attending CEDAR to join us in creating a safer, more inclusive environment by taking steps to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and other illnesses during the conference. We can use what we learned during the pandemic
to make the CEDAR conference a safer, more inclusive experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The CEDAR Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee recommends the following precautions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;font-stretch: normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">
<span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Per CDC guidelines<sup>5</sup>, please isolate and do not attend in-person sessions upon testing positive for COVID-19. We recommend bringing at-home COVID tests as only a limited number of tests
will be available at the conference.<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;font-stretch: normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">
<span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">If you have COVID-19, or if you share a room with someone who has COVID-19, please contact the workshop organizers for help. <br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#343736;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;font-stretch: normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(52, 55, 54)">
<span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white">Although masks are not required, wearing of masks is encouraged, especially in crowded areas (such as the plenaries, poster sessions and workshops) to limit the risk of transmission.
Well-fitting N95s and KN95s are most effective.</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#343736;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;font-stretch: normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(52, 55, 54)">
<span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white">Please wear a mask following a known exposure to COVID-19.</span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;font-stretch: normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">
<span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">If you see someone wearing a mask, please be courteous and put yours on before approaching them or sitting next to them. <br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;font-stretch: normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">
<span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Please consider testing before travel and taking precautions during travel to reduce chances of bringing COVID-19 to the conference.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">We extend our condolences and wishes for comfort to those in the CEDAR community who have lost family members and friends to COVID-19. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">We look forward to working together to create a safer meeting for all! Thank you for your consideration!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Be well, Stay Safe, and Stay Healthy,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The CEDAR DEI Task Force<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">References:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><sup><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">1</span></sup><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html" title="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html"><span style="color:#103CC0">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#103CC0"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><sup><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">2</span></sup><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2805540" title="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2805540"><span style="color:#0D3EC5;background:white">https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2805540</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0D3EC5"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><sup><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">3 </span></sup><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02051-3" title="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02051-3"><span style="color:#0D3EC5;background:white">https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02051-3</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0D3EC5"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><sup><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">4</span></sup><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2805540" title="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2805540"><span style="color:#0D3EC5;background:white">https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2805540</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0D3EC5"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><sup><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">5 </span></sup><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html" title="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><sup><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">6</span></sup><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#103CC0"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/s0526-eis.html" title="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/s0526-eis.html">https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/s0526-eis.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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