2022 OAH Conference on American History

COVID-19 Update: Masks requested, not required.

The city of Boston's mask mandate for indoor space has been lifted. Masks will no longer be required by the city in indoor public spaces, such as gyms, bars and restaurants, museums and entertainment venues. Individual operators may still choose to require masking.

Public transportation, health care settings, and congregant care settings are still subject to state and federal mask orders.

The OAH requests that all attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and staff continue to wear masks in any OAH designated space (breakout rooms/exhibit hall/ lobby areas outside these spaces) for the safety and comfort of others. We will continue to track local guidance and consider other adjustments as warranted.

On February 18, Mayor Michelle Wu and Dr. Bisola Ojikutu of the city of Boston announced that the City’s proof of vaccination policy will be lifted effective immediately. The public health data show Boston has a:

• 4.0% community positivity rate
• 90.7% occupancy rate of adult ICU beds, and
• 7-day average of adult COVID-19 hospitalizations at 195.9 per day, falling below all three previously announced thresholds.

Since our last update on the plans for the 2022 OAH Conference on American History, scheduled for March 31 to April 3, 2022, at the Sheraton Boston Hotel, we are encouraged by declining COVID numbers nationwide but are keeping a close watch on the public health situation and will continue to update you frequently. At this time, we are planning to move forward with the in-person conference while offering a separate online program of recorded and select live sessions. You can learn more about the conference formats and register for either the in-person or online conference here. All registered attendees, regardless of type, will receive access to session recordings made at/for both formats.

• The city: The city of Boston continues to uphold their mask mandate and proof of vaccination requirements. Please be aware that both these requirements will be enforced by the hotel for anyone attending the in-person conference. We encourage you to view the links below which include FAQs and other information to ensure that you are fully informed about the requirements for in-person attendance.
  • Proof of vaccination requirement
  • Mask mandate
  • Boston Public Health COVID-19 Metrics
• The hotel: We are continuing to work with the hotel to maximize attendees’ ability to safeguard themselves while providing the customary networking and socializing opportunities. Rooms will be set to maximize the ability to distance, and sanitation stations will be placed throughout the venue. In addition, we will provide ways for attendees to quickly identify their comfort levels for engaging with others during their in-person, socially distanced interactions.
• The program: Some sessions at the in-person conference will be presented in a live-hybrid format and a small number have converted to fully online (a list of these sessions can be found here). All registered attendees will have access to the recordings of converted sessions. Please note that we will not be able to offer hybrid technology at the event without prior arrangement. Our aim remains to greet one another in person next month, but we will continue to monitor the situation and be in touch with updates, reminders, and announcements in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.

Regarding the 2022 OAH Conference on American History, scheduled for March 31‑April 3, 2022, at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. As we move into the new year, we are working to calibrate conference planning to the ongoing COVID pandemic. Currently, we are planning to go forward with the conference, continuing the option to register for the in-person or online format. All registered attendees, regardless of type, will receive access to session recordings made at both events.

In this light, the official OAH22 program will be hitting OAH member mailboxes in the next couple of weeks. Since the program went to print, in addition to the standing mask mandate requiring masking in all indoor public spaces, the city of Boston has announced it will be implementing a new city-wide vaccination mandate starting January 15. This vaccination mandate states all customers, employees, and vendors are required to provide proof of vaccination to be allowed entry into any fitness centers, indoor dining at restaurants, bars, catering/event facilities and any other indoor sit-down dining located in the city of Boston. This means that all registered attendees and their guests at the in-person conference will need to present proof of vaccination status to be admitted to the hotel facility and therefore the conference. (Please see information below)

As planning moves forward, we are continuing to work with the hotel to maximize attendees’ ability to safeguard themselves while providing the customary networking and socializing opportunities. Rooms will be set to maximize the ability to distance, and sanitation stations will be placed throughout the venue. In addition, we will provide ways for attendees to quickly identify their comfort levels for engaging with others during their in-person, socially distanced interactions.

Our aim is to greet one another in person in a few months’ time, but we will continue to monitor the situation and adapt as events warrant. The conference team will continue to be in touch with updates, reminders, and announcements as they become available.

Updated: 1.5.2022
*Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission, regarding vaccination requirements in Boston states that all customers, employees, and vendors are required to provide proof of vaccination to be allowed entry into fitness center, indoor dining at restaurants, bars, catering/event facilities and any other indoor sit-down dining located in the city of Boston.*

“Proof of vaccination” means proof of receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use or licensed for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization, as required under the phased implementation of this order.

Such proof may be established by:

• a CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card
• a digital image of the CDC card
• any other official immunization record from the jurisdiction, state, or country where the vaccine was administered 
• a digital or physical photo of such a card or record, reflecting the person’s name, vaccine brand, and date administered 
• a letter, digital image, or report from a health care provider, pharmacy, or vaccination site establishing proof of COVID-19 vaccination 
• or any vaccination verification smartphone application developed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or developed or endorsed by the City of Boston.

The OAH asks that all attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and suppliers comply with all local and state health mandates and guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID and expect that all attending do the same. If you exhibit symptoms of COVID we respectfully ask that you do not attend the conference. Conference attendees who do not follow the health and safety directives will be asked to leave the conference space without refund.