Health and Safety at AIM

We are excited to bring our community together again in 2023. With that in mind, AIM is committed to ensuring we follow all local, state, and federal COVID-19 guidelines related to large gatherings.

How will I know if there are changes?

We will update the Animal Image Makers website and notify all attendees via email should any local, state, or federal guidelines change between now and the first day of the conference.

Masks: Face Coverings Are Encouraged

All attendees are encouraged to wear face masks inside buildings in an effort to keep one another safe. Unvaccinated attendees must wear a face mask in public indoor settings. This includes classes, the expo floor, restaurants, bars, and meeting spaces. Guidelines are subject to change per local and federal rules.

While vaccinations are not mandatory for you to attend, we highly encourage attendees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine/booster before coming to the Animal Image Makers Conference.

Special Measures During the Show

• Hand sanitizer stations: There will be hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes located throughout the Hilton for attendees to use. Regular handwashing is also encouraged. 
• The Hilton CleanStay Program: Hilton has partnered with Reckitt, makers of Lysol® & Dettol®*, to help deliver an even cleaner stay for guests with the creation of the Hilton CleanStay program. Hilton CleanStay builds on their already rigorous cleaning standards to provide complete peace of mind.
• Deeper, more frequent cleaning: The Hilton has increased scheduled cleaning and made changes to amenities and services in an effort to protect your well-being while using public spaces.
• Guest room sanitation: The Hilton cleans all guest rooms with products from Lysol, Dettol, Sagrotan, or Napisan.  They’ve also increased the frequency of air filter replacements and HVAC system cleaning.
• Contactless service: Travel on your terms with the Hilton Honors app. Check in, choose your room & skip the front desk with Digital Key, which provides access to your room key directly from your phone.
• Social distancing (when possible): Consider alternatives to handshakes and hugs, such as an elbow bump.
• Badge Stickers:  Be sure you let attendees know your comfort level by picking up and displaying a badge Sticker.  You'll find green, yellow and red stickers to signify if you're ready for hugs (green), sticking to elbow bumps (yellow), or would prefer no physical contact (red).

Where can I find more information about the guidelines?

For up-to-date information, please visit these links:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Minnesota Department of Health 
• Hennepin County Department of Health
• Bloomington, MN Public Health
• Hilton MSP

COVID TESTS

There are two types of Covid-19 tests:  

Saliva/PCR

• Saliva results from testing at state sites are available within approximately 24-72 hours from processing.
• PCR tests are the most accurate tests for detecting the virus that causes COVID-19.
• Tests at the Minnesota’s community saliva testing sites are polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, molecular tests that detect the virus's genetic material.
• A positive PCR test result is considered a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Rapid

• Rapid test results at state sites will be available within approximately 1-3 hours of processing.
• Tests at the Minnesota’s community rapid testing sites are antigen tests. Antigen tests look for specific proteins on the surface of the virus and produce results more quickly than other tests.
• The test is conducted with a nasal swab. A positive antigen test result is considered a probable case of COVID-19, but they are still  considered cases.

At-Home Rapid Tests

We encourage attendees to bring their own rapid test if they feel they will need to test before attending or before leaving the conference, or if they suddenly don't feel well.  We will do our best to have some tests on hand, but cannot guarantee we will have availability.

Community testing sites (No cost)
Schedule an appointment for a test at one of Minnesota’s free community testing sites across Minnesota. Sites offer rapid, saliva, or both types of tests. The nearest options to the conference are:

Bloomington
The state has a saliva testing site in Bloomington at 9930 Logan Avenue S., the former site of the Motor Vehicle Office (DMV) (approximately 7 miles from the Hilton MSP). Appointments are encouraged. You can make an appointment online to get tested there Monday - Friday  from 11am-6pm, or at another state testing location.  

MSP Airport

Appointments for saliva tests may be made at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport from 7am-7pm. Appointments only – no walk-ins.  Saliva results available within approximately 24-72 hours from processing. Parking will be available for all seeking a  COVID-19 test. (Drive to Terminal 1 and into the entry plaza for the  parking ramps. Signs will guide you from the inbound roadway to the clinic location. Follow signage to Level 2 in the Blue Ramp. Walk to the  centrally located elevator lobby and follow signs to the clinic.)  The Hilton offers a free airport shuttle as well.  Appointments can be scheduled here.

The US-Canada borders are open to fully vaccinated travelers. The Government of Canada’s travel advice for visiting the USA is as follows:
The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad. 

Canadian attendees must have a COVID test one day before traveling to the USA. This can be an antigen test and most places that test will give you results within 2 to 5 hours. Print your results to show to airline agents. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

Canadians need to be vaccinated to travel by airline. https://www.aircanada.com/il/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2020/covid-19.html#/

When Canadian travelers leave the USA, they need a PCR test within 72 hours from their USA flight into Canada. (For example, if someone has two flights within the USA before entering Canada, that time would be calculated from the second flight.) Antigen tests are not accepted to enter Canada.

Canadian travelers must also get the ArriveCan app: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan.html

From thepointsguy.com:
All travelers 5 years of age and older must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter Canada. However, travelers visiting Canada who recovered from COVID-19 can enter the country with proof of a positive molecular test instead of a negative one. The Canadian government says the positive test must have been taken  at least 15 and no more than 180 days before entering the country. The  positive test must be from an accepted type of molecular test, which can  be a PCR, nucleic acid test or an RT-LAMP. Travelers who show a  positive result won’t have to take an arrival test upon entry to Canada.  Fully vaccinated travelers from the U.S. are currently able to visit Canada, and all travelers must provide results of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure to Canada or proof of recovery.

Looking for more information?  Check out the State of Minnesota's Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Testing page.

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The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. Animal Image Makers does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.