By Mark Herrera
Epistemix, data science platform company that builds location specific simulations to test health and safety measures for events and venues, released updated data that projects the risk of COVID transmission next week during IAVM’s 97th VenueConnect Annual Conference and Trade Show in Phoenix to be reduced by 40% given the safety protocols.
“IAVM’s use of data to inform decisions on what health and safety measures to put in place shows 
strong leadership for the industry,” says Dr. Lindsey Reiser, Chief of Staff, Epistemix. “When seasonal changes and new variants arise, enacting protocols like what IAVM is doing enables venues and organizers to keep business going as usual.”
“This is what the ‘new normal’ everyone has been talking about for the last year looks like,” says John Cordier, CEO of Epistemix. “Under certain scenarios, you put in protocols to keep things moving forward. You keep business moving and ensure safety for all people in attendance.”
Partnering in 2022, Epistemix and IAVM are working together to develop appropriate mitigation strategies to ensure the safety of events at venues using a data-informed approach.
Projections show:
● The VenueConnect mask and testing protocols ensure a controlled environment that provides a high level of protection from COVID-19.
● Risk of transmission is reduced by 40% given the protocols.
● With its masks and testing, attendees are six (6) times less likely to be exposed to COVID at the event than a similar sized event in Phoenix without protocols.
● Epistemix will continue to monitor variants to provide the most up to date projections to IAVM and recommendations to health and safety protocols.
● Epistemix data has proven to be 95% accurate when forecasting for past events.
IAVM will continue to work with Epistemix to provide regular updates and forecasts for attendees and exhibitors for future events.
Mark Herrera is Director of Life Safety & Security for IAVM.
