Aspen Institute COVID-19 Health & Safety Advisory
The Aspen Institute regards the health and safety of its staff and participants as our highest priority and is committed to doing its part to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Please visit the Institute’s Health & Safety page for more information about the standard health & safety measures we are taking, as well as expectations for our event attendees, that are needed to minimize the risk of transmission or spread of COVID-19 and related variants.
Under our standard protocols, all attendees at Aspen Institute in-person events will be required to show they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or, if they are exempt from this requirement (see below for allowable exemptions), take a COVID-19 rapid test and show a negative result before entry. This test will be provided and paid for by the Aspen Institute. If you need to be tested, more information on the method, location, and timing of the tests will be provided to you by email before the event. If you test positive for COVID-19, you will not be allowed to enter or attend the event in-person.
Under our standard protocols, you will be cleared to attend the event if you are fully vaccinated. If you are not fully vaccinated under our standard protocols, you may be exempted from the vaccination requirement, but only for the following reasons:
You have a disability, are pregnant or nursing, and/or have a medical condition which prevents you from getting vaccinated
You have objections to vaccination based on religious beliefs
You do not yet have access to the vaccine
ReturnSafe App Submission Instructions
The Institute is using the ReturnSafe app to capture, track, and securely store COVID-19 screening data about its attendees.
Please follow these steps to install and use the ReturnSafe app as soon as possible. If you do not submit your information in advance, there will be significant delays to the registration process on site.
Note that the Institute will only be collecting proof of vaccination and will not be collecting proof of the booster vaccine.
Please follow these steps to install and use the ReturnSafe app:
iPhone users: Install the app from the Apple App Store
Android users: Install the app from the Google Play Store.
Web (Mobile or Desktop/Laptop): https://desktop.returnsafe.com
To use the app you will need the following information:
After providing your contact information, you will be asked a series of questions about your vaccination status and requested to upload your vaccine documentation as verification, so please have it handy when you log-in to the ReturnSafe app. This information will remain protected and confidential from others at the event.
By submitting your information, you agree to the terms of Aspen Institute’s privacy policy (www.aspeninstitute.org/privacy) and Return Safe’s (www.returnsafe.com/privacy-policy) and you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal data (including any sensitive data) in accordance with the privacy policies above. If you are a non-US citizen, your consent includes permission to transfer your data out of your country to the US to enable the implementation of this COVID safety policy.
Additional Precautions
NEW: Given the increase of community spread of COVID-19, all participants are required to complete a COVID-19 antigen test on the first day they attend the Action Forum. The Aspen Institute will have a free testing clinic available at the Aspen Meadows Campus at the below times in front of the Resnick Malek Health Center:
Tuesday, July 26 from 1:00pm - 7:00pm
Wednesday, July 27 from 7:30am - 3:00pm
Contact Olivia O'Neil if you need to test outside of these hours.
All participants - adults and youth - are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or if exempt from the vaccine requirement, test the first day of the event. The Aspen Institute is using an app called ReturnSafe to collect vaccination information. This information was due by July 1, so if you have not already, please follow the steps below to submit your vaccination status as soon as possible.
While not required, masks will be available around campus if you would like to wear one.
Whenever possible, sessions and meals will take place outside. View your personal agenda on the Event Experience page for the most up-to-date session locations.
We are partnering with the Aspen Meadows to ensure that safety and cleanliness standards are met on campus. The Aspen Meadows team will adhere to the same COVID-19 health and safety standards outlined for all event participants.
Health and Safety for Youth Participants
Your child’s/children’s health and safety are extremely important to us. In addition to the standards outlined above, including the daily health check, you are required to sign and complete this DocuSign package regarding medical information as well as submit your child's vaccination status* via ReturnSafe prior to arrival. Within the DocuSign package, you'll find instructions on how to submit vaccination status in ReturnSafe. We will be keeping this important information confidential. View the ReturnSafe and Aspen Institute privacy policies above.
The Youth Action Forum DocuSign package and vaccination status via ReturnSafe was due on July 1. If you have not already, please sign the package and upload your child's/children's vaccination information to ReturnSafe as soon as possible.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact our Youth Action Forum Director, Christian Devers.
*If your child is exempt from the vaccine requirement, they will be asked to test before entering the event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fully vaccinated means you have received a vaccine that is authorized by the FDA for use in the United States, OR if you are outside the U.S., have received a vaccine that has been approved by the World Health Organization, AND you are at least 2 weeks past the final shot required of this vaccine. If the CDC changes the definition of “fully vaccinated,” we will update our protocols as needed to keep aligned with its recommendations.
The Aspen Institute regards the health and safety of its staff, participants, and community members as our highest priority. To honor that commitment, all participants must complete a COVID-19 test before entry. The test is free-of-charge and will take about 15-minutes of your time. A testing service will be available at the Aspen Meadows Resort at the below times. The test required for entry must be issued and verified by this provider . We will not accept other negative test results at this time. Please plan to allocate around 15-minutes to complete your test when you arrive at the Aspen Meadows Resort.
Tuesday, July 26 from 1:00pm to 7:00pm | In Front of Resnick-Malek Health Center
Wednesday, July 27 from 7:30am to 3:00pm | In Front of Resnick-Malek Health Center
Contact Olivia O'Neil if you need to test outside of these hours.
While not required, masks will be available around campus if you would like to wear one. Unvaccinated individuals are still advised to mask for their own safety.
Please check-in with yourself before coming to sessions each day. If you are experiencing any symptoms, we ask that you do not attend sessions. There are several testing centers in Aspen if you would like to seek out a test. View more about testing options here.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you will not be allowed to attend the event in-person and will be asked to leave if the event is in progress. We strongly recommend testing yourself before you leave for Aspen. While we cannot diagnose or treat attendees for COVID-19 or any other disease, or offer medical advice, we will encourage anyone who tests positive to contact a qualified doctor or medical provider for more information, as well as review guidance from the CDC and public health officials.
If, after you depart our event, you learn that you may have been exposed to the virus, or have contracted it yourself, we kindly ask that you notify us of that information. And we pledge to do the same for you, working with local public health authorities, should we learn of any confirmed exposures among other attendees you may have come in contact with. Your identity will be managed with respect for privacy.
Please visit https://support.returnsafe.com or email support@returnsafe.com for assistance.
To learn more about the Aspen Institute’s privacy policy, refer to www.aspeninstitute.org/privacy. To learn more about the ReturnSafe COVID screening platform’s privacy policy, refer to www.returnsafe.com/privacy-policy.
