As we prepare to host our 2021 National Conference in Indianapolis this April, we are praising God that COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are dropping significantly in Indiana and nationwide. We are also encouraged that vaccination distribution nationwide will continue to expand between now and the April conference.
We’re thrilled by the improving numbers, though we recognize that even in mid-April, COVID-19 will still be around.
For the thousands planning to attend TGC21 or TGCW21 in person, rest assured that we’ve been working closely with the city of Indianapolis to facilitate a conference that will be as safe as possible for all attendees and speakers. Here are some of the precautions we’ll be taking:
- All attendees will be required to wear masks, take a daily temperature check, and complete a daily health questionnaire.
- Main hall and breakout session rooms will comply with 25 percent room capacity standards.
- Because we are using only the largest rooms in the Indiana Convention Center—to allow for social distancing—we are holding six rounds of breakout sessions, twice as many as we’d normally offer. This means everyone attending in-person can select up to six individual breakout sessions. Virtual attendees will be able to watch any and all breakout sessions—live or on demand.
- The Indiana Convention Center recently spent $7 million on building upgrades to ensure safe events, including installing hospital-grade air filters, hand sanitizing stations, touchless sink and soap dispensers, plexiglass shields at all point-of-sale locations and information desks, and more.
Indiana state and local officials have been hosting safe in-person events for months. Between July 2020 and February 2021, Indy hosted more than live events, safely welcoming more than 130,000 visitors to the city with no known COVID-19 spread.
We’re encouraged that, mere days before our conferences begin in April, Indianapolis will have just hosted a large-scale national event—the NCAA basketball tournament. Due to rapidly declining COVID-19 numbers, the NCAA announced last week that some fans—at 25 percent capacity of venues—will be allowed to attend more than 60 games happening in Indianapolis in late March and early April.
We’re committed to making TGC21 a top-notch, safe, and enriching experience for all attendees, online or Indy. Whether you attend online or in-person, we hope to see you in April!
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The Gospel Coalition