A multi-layered plan to ensure a safe environment for everyone MWC21 takes place 28 June - 1 July 2021 in Barcelona
8 March 2021, London: The GSMA has shared details of its health and safety plan for MWC21 Barcelona. The plan was developed in coordination with and approved by the Catalan health authorities responsible for the regulations governing MWC21, including the Department of Business and Knowledge of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Technical Committee of the Procicat. According to the Sectorial Plan of Fairs and Congresses, the plan satisfies the directives and recommendations for event organisers.
The health and safety plan, Committed Community, will impact everyone involved with the event. The plan takes a layered approach designed to create a safe environment for staff, workers, exhibitors, visitors, suppliers, partners, and the local community. Layers include frequent testing, contact tracing, touchless environments, re-vamped catering, occupancy monitoring, upgrades to facility infrastructure, increased medical staff and personal commitments like adhering to social distancing. The plan builds on the Protocol on Safety and Prevention against COVID-19 currently being implemented by Fira de Barcelona.
Recently, Fira de Barcelona was awarded the World Travel Tourism Council Safe Travels stamp for its Covid-19 safety measures. These measures were designed in collaboration with the specialist risk management consultancy Aon and with the advice of the Hospital Cl nic in Barcelona, a benchmark epidemiological centre.
We've worked with partners, health authorities and medical professionals to create a plan that builds confidence in our return to in-person events. The GSMA has safely and successfully organised premier mobile events for many years. Since 2006, we have worked closely with the Host City Parties and Fira Barcelona to keep everyone safe and secure at MWC events. No doubt, Covid-19 is our biggest challenge to date. But our experience gives us a rock-solid foundation from which we have built our plan. This foundation means MWC21 Barcelona can go ahead safely, in person, with a digital online component for those unable to attend. It will remain the unique, unmissable experience that has made it the world's most important mobile event, said John Hoffman, Chief Executive Officer GSMA Ltd.
Committed Community
Check In To Get In is the first step in the multi-layered plan. Participants will download My MWC, a bespoke app designed for MWC21 Barcelona. It is a digital badge that will activate and allow for entrance to the event once registration, self-declaration and testing is completed. Registration for MWC21 will open in the coming weeks.
Testing
Before leaving home, travellers from some destinations will be required to show a negative Covid-19 test before being allowed to board planes and travel to Catalonia. The Spanish Authorities will dictate this requirement
Participants arriving by train or car will be directed to MWC relevant testing centres to validate their health status
All participants will be required to produce a valid negative rapid test to access the Venue. The test must be repeated every 72 hours, with participants notified through the My MWC app of upcoming expiration
Multiple testing centres will be available to support rapid testing
All tests will be performed by qualified personnel working alongside the Catalan Health Authorities
Whilst in the Venue, temperature checks will also be conducted at all access points
The Venue
Entrances and exits have doubled to ensure social distancing and support one-way traffic flow through the Venue
A touchless' environment, with badgeless' entry and other formerly manual interactions digitised
Fira Gran Via restaurants have been re-designed to ensure social distancing, food preparation, and offering adheres to enhanced standards, including contactless payment
Fira Gran Via has increased sanitisation protocols throughout the Venue
Features a new fresh-air injection and external ventilation system to improve airflow, exceeding the highest standard of AD1
Upgraded infrastructure including new monitoring systems will support our active capacity and density management, ensuring social distancing guidelines are adhered to along with one-way flows
Medical protocols
The onsite medical facilities have been adapted to incorporate Covid-19 protocols, including the addition of isolation rooms to facilitate assessments
Increased medical personnel onsite to conduct assessments, administer PCR or rapid tests and to coordinate where necessary with Catalan health authorities
The relevant contact tracing data will be shared with health authorities if needed to mitigate potential exposure further
Your commitment
Comply with testing protocols
Complete a daily health questionnaire in the My MWC app
Make regular use of the 1,300 disinfectant dispensers placed around the venue, wear a FFP2 (Filtering Facepiece Respirators) mask and adhere to social distancing requirements
As we look at the roll-out of vaccinations across different countries, we can expect that the risk of contracting Covid-19 will gradually decrease. Vaccines are game-changers. However, as we don't know the extent to which all vaccines may prevent transmission, I believe that the adoption of ever improving technology for screening and diagnosis may be as powerful as the rollouts of the vaccine itself. said Dr. Rodriguez-Fernandez, International SOS.
The GSMA will continue to adapt its health and safety plan as new information is available or as directed by local authorities. Onsite marshals will support efforts to adhere, and training will be provided to key staff and participants to ensure all elements are strictly followed. Up-to-date information on our Committed Community can be found via the MWC Barcelona website, be
