The National Drowning Prevention Alliance was scheduled to hold its first in-person symposium since the pandemic, but it has changed course in response to the increase in infection rates due to the Delta variant.
Instead, it will hold its third virtual event, on the same dates -- Sept. 13-14.
Said the organization to its members: "All of us in the drowning prevention and water safety community have been looking forward to safely reconnecting in-person after the last 18 long months. Unfortunately, the rise and rampant spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant has created new and unexpected challenges for many in our community...
"The NDPA is a public-health-focused organization, and many of our members and attendees work in positions directly impacted by the recent surge in cases around the country. The fourth wave of the pandemic was unexpected, doesn’t appear to be showing any signs of slowing down, and is in fact projected to be potentially worse by mid-September. The NDPA Board of Directors firmly believes that it is in the best interests of our attendees, sponsors, and supporters to move the symposium to a virtual-only format."
Attendees can access the virtual event at NDPA.org. Organizers said the agenda has only been modified slightly.
The NDPA was the first to hold its events virtually, having to change course with just a few weeks' times in spring of 2020.
