TAGC Coronavirus FAQs

Updated March 11, 2020

Will TAGC be cancelled because of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

As of March 11, TAGC is proceeding as planned, but GSA is in the process of re-evaluating the situation.

Last week, GSA staff and leadership met with organizers from all the TAGC communities to discuss the options and solicit input. This week, the GSA Board of Directors will meet to evaluate the latest information. They will then provide a public update on the meeting status and relevant policies. If TAGC is cancelled, registrants will receive a refund. If TAGC goes ahead, the cancellation deadline will be reviewed and revised. We ask for your patience in allowing leadership time for a full deliberative process and careful contingency planning.

While scientific progress has never been more important, the safety of our community is our highest priority. We will continue to monitor advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Maryland Department of Health, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We will provide updates on this web page and via email.

Do I have to register by the presenter deadline of March 9?

No. We have waived the requirement for presenters to register by March 9. Both presenters and non-presenters can register at any time.

Do I have to register by the cancellation deadline of March 16?

No. You do not need to register before the cancellation deadline.

Should I book my transportation yet?

If you have not yet purchased transportation tickets to TAGC, we recommend you do NOT make any bookings, unless the fare is refundable. 

Note that at this time, American Airlines will waive the change fee for non-refundable fares purchased between March 1 and March 16 (meaning you can reschedule your flight if needed), and JetBlue is suspending change and cancellations fees for all new flight bookings made between February 27 and March 11. Southwest does not charge a cancellation fee. United Airlines is not charging change fees for tickets issued March 3 through March 31, 2020. Delta will waive change fees for all flights booked between March 1-31 to any destination the airline serves.

Are many people cancelling because of COVID-19?

A total of about 180 registrants have cancelled for any reason. One exhibitor has cancelled due to company travel restrictions. We are starting to receive cancellations from attendees at institutions that are restricting travel for employees and students, but the extent of these cancellations is unknown at this time.

What if I submitted an abstract and cannot attend?

Abstracts that have not already been withdrawn will be published. If you cancel your registration, please ask a co-author to present on your behalf and send the replacement information to gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org as soon as possible.

Is there a cancellation fee?

A $75 processing fee will be charged for all registration cancellations, except in the case of visa denials, government travel restrictions due to COVID-19, or flight cancellations due to COVID-19. Cancellation requests must be sent to gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org.

Cancellation requests must reach the GSA office by March 16, 2020. After that date, no refunds will be made unless the event itself is cancelled by GSA. Note that cancelling your meeting registration does not cancel your hotel reservation; you must cancel directly with the hotel. If you booked at the conference hotel, you will receive a refund of your deposit as long as you cancel more than 72 hours in advance of your arrival date. If you booked other accommodations, check with the provider for their cancellation policy.

How can I stay informed about the status of the meeting?

The information on this page will be reviewed daily and new information added as soon as it becomes available. Those who have registered or submitted an abstract will also be contacted via email regularly. Please add society@genetics-gsa.org to your contact list and whitelist to ensure you do not miss these emails.

If it becomes necessary to cancel TAGC, we will immediately notify all registrants and abstract authors via email.

Where can I find more information about COVID-19?

Please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 information resource for current advice. If you are traveling to TAGC from outside the US we recommend you also monitor travel advice from your national public health authorities.