Lucas Nussbaum dijo [Fri, Jan 30, 2026 at 10:04:06AM +0100]:
- If you feel a little unwell or just "down", you MUST:
- Request a COVID-19 self-test from the front-desk.
- Avoid enclosed spaces with uninfected attendees as much as possible.
- Wear a mask whenever around others and food.
This is a part I find hard to translate into actions.
Feeling a little tired after a few days of DebConf is kind-of a normal
state. Days (and evenings) are long and intense, and even when being
cautious at managing one's fatigue, it's easy to be a bit overwhelmed.
I don't really see a difference between "Avoiding enclosed spaces as
much as possible" and "Avoiding enclosed spaces and instead attend talks
remotely" because I can't really imagine a situation where it's not
possible for someone to not attend talks or hacklabs.
Under this policy, what is really expected from someone with mild
symptoms (such as running nose or headache), who feels just a little
tired (again, basically expected at DebConf), but who tested negative
for covid and influenza?
In most settings I know, that person would be expected to take all
reasonable precautions (wear mask, wash hands frequently, avoid physical
contact, etc.) but would not be expected to self-isolate.
I would interpret the three bullets you quote as, “if you feel a little bit
unwell, don't assume it's nothing, and act responsible, preventively”. As
you say, maybe I'm still recovering from jetlag, lack of sleep, weather
changes, and got a headache — I don't have to go hide in my room, or stay
in the “outside hacklab” (if there is one) permanently, but I can take some
little steps that are not too obtrusive, to avoid spreading what still
amounts to be a heisenbug.
Of course, this is as long as the bug is unobservable, but makes itself
slightly felt. You MUST act responsibly and you MUST consider other
people's health situation is not as good as your own; do what you can to
limit other's exposure to whatever might be ailing you.
Of course, maybe a couple of hours later (even a short nap later!) you
might feel perfectly fine. Observe the slope of your wellness. Is it going
upwards (getting better)? Lower the guard a bit. Is it going downwards?
Take a bit more steps to protect your friends.
I would suggest rewriting this case and the following as something like:
- If you feel a little unwell or just "down", or exhibit mild symptoms,
- you MUST request a COVID-19 and Influenza self-test from the front-desk
- you are not required to self-isolate, but you MUST take all reasonable
precautions to protect others: wear a mask, wash hands frequently,
avoid physical contact (shaking hands/hugging)
- If you tested positive for COVID-19 or Influenza, or know you are infected
with a high-risk illness, you MUST:
- Let the organization know: Email [email protected]
- Avoid enclosed conference spaces, and instead attend talks remotely.
- Request isolated accommodation.
That would clarify the grey area between 100% healthy attendees and
COVID-positive attendees, by limiting isolation to COVID-19, Influenza,
and "high-risk" illness (whatever that means, but that allows excluding
common cold, for example).
I'm well aware that mild rhinovirus / common cold infections can
degenerate into more nasty stuff. Still, I believe it's useful to
distinguish between more dangerous diseases (and especially those that
one can test for) and diseases that are generally considered common and
low-danger.
Right. I don't feel too strongly about the wording, and just prefer not to
make things more verbose if we can. But, given this document was drafted by
the DebConf Committee, I won't object. But I'm leaving others decide to
incorporate it ;-)
