INCON EXPERT ARTICLE
What kind of health screening measures are keeping events safe in China
A Case study from the Hunan Autoshow
By Lisa Xu, Managing Director, East Star
The Hunan Autoshow took place from 30 April-5 May 2020 and attracted more than 62,000 attendees, with an exhibition area of 60,000sqm, over 100 exhibitors and 600 car displays.
Specific health measures were put in place for all staff and participants as follows:
On-site staff, including venue support, exhibitors, volunteers were required to pass a general health check.
On-site staff and visitors were required to wear masks and urged to wash hands frequently.
Visitors were required to follow a series of health screening procedures.
In addition to these measures, the exhibition hall was responsible for disinfection and sterilization three times per day during move-in and two times per day during the show. Two temporary medical centers were built and set up at the site - one outside the building and on the show floor.
Onsite Health Screening Procedures
Visitors to the show were required to follow a series of health screening procedures, as follows:
STEP 1 –Temperature Check
Pass the general temperature control, either through a stand-alone tent equipped with IR thermometers or handheld thermometers help by security guards.
STEP 2 - Health & Travel Check
An app was used to create an Epidemic Health Information Code. After making a personal health declaration, visitors had to complete a few more steps on the homepage in order to be accredited with an entry code. The health QR code needed for entry included traceable information such as the origin of the visitor, their travel in the past 14 days or if this person has had a fever in the past 14 days. Some of the regions in China are still considered red zones. People from these regions or people who have been to these regions in the past 14 days are not supposed to travel anywhere.
STEP 3 – Security & Temperature Check
Pass the security machine scanner, where people’s belongings have to be scanned - just like in the airport. There are IR thermometers on the machine scanner gate frame, so everyone needs to do the temperature check for the second time before entering the exhibition hall.
STEP 4 – Identity Check
Each ticket includes personal ID information, both ticket and ID card has to be scanned and all masks have to be removed for facial recognition. This is similar to the facial recognition machine at passport control or immigration.
Following the completion of the Hunan Auto Show, the Chinese government issued guidance to allow conferences and exhibitions to be held with strict prevention measures in place.
For live or off-line events all over the world, we know the format will be different versus events organised before March 2020. Event organisers and venues are adapting to all these hygiene requirements to ensure the safety and health of everyone. We need to continue to take a flexible approach and adopt different strategies according to the local situation as well as the different government policies.
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About the Author
Lisa Xu is an international events professional with more than 19 years experience in both government and corporate meetings & events, including: strategic planning, theme development, marketing, events & hospitality, logistics, client account management and sponsorship management.
As Managing Director for East Star, she is responsible for managing a team of more than 80 people. She is adept at financial planning and accountability and acts as the liaison with key clients. She has strong operational and HR skills and broad experience in corporate event management, experiential marketing for meetings, conferences, corporate incentives, seminars as well as exhibitions throughout China.
She is interested in developing international PCO business, building local and international cross-cultural teams and applying her extensive business experience.
This article is No.46 in a series of expert articles brought to you by INCON. To consult other articles please see our Expert Article archive.
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Angela Guillemet
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