Masks will be required to be worn for the duration of Alabama Captive Insurance Association’s (ACIA) in-person conference in September.

“We are providing masks for everybody. Here in Alabama we have a mass ordinance and you have to wear a mask every time you do into a public place. So we are going to require that people wear masks during the conference,” a spokesperson for ACIA told Captive Review.

The mask rules came into effect on 17 July. “You have to wear a mask when you are in public and in close contact with other people,” the public health department states.

“Specifically, the order says to wear a mask when you are within six feet of a person from another household in any of the following places: (a) an indoor space open to the public; (b) a vehicle operated by a transportation service; and (c) an outdoor public space where ten or more people are gathered.”

The masks given to attendees at the ACIA conference are sponsored, with IronRE providing the face protections. Masks are allowed to be lowered for eating and drinking.

ACIA announced last month that they would host the first in-person captive conference since the Captive Insurance Companies Association (CICA) cancelled their annual event at the beginning of March.

The event is being held from 16 to 18 of September at the Westin Birmingham Hotel.

The association today announced the safety precautions being implemented for the three day conference, including providing masks for attendees.

Other safety precautions announced include meeting spaces to accommodate social distancing, providing hand sanitiser throughout the venue, contact-free distribution of food and implementing a “no touch” conference greeting.

“We understand the concern surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and are collaborating with our event venue to successfully ensure a safe environment during the 2020 Conference in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” president of ACIA Norman Chandler said.