Exhibitor COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocols
Current as of October 5, 2021. These protocols will be updated as needed in accordance with government requirements.
The health and safety of our exhibitors, contractors, staff, and patrons remain our #1 priority. Art Toronto has been organized in accordance with Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen, Toronto Public Health guidance, and Informa’s AllSecure Health and Safety standards.
It’s important for everyone involved in the fair to closely follow these measures so that together, we can best mitigate risk. As outlined by the provincial government, all of us will need to use “multiple layers” of prevention to provide the best protection against COVID-19.
Screening (COVID-19 Symptoms & Proof of Vaccination)
Please stay home if you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 or if you have COVID-19 symptoms that are new, getting worse or unexplained. Ensure your staff know to also do the same.
Fever (temperature of 37.8 C / 100.0 F or greater) and/or chills
Cough (new or worsening)
Shortness of breath
Decrease or loss of taste or smell
For adults (18+): fatigue, lethargy, malaise and/or myalgias
For children (<18): nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea
In this situation individuals are advised to contact their health care provider or Telehealth Ontario at +1 (866) 797-0000.
Before entering the Metro Toronto Convention Centre each day, all exhibitors, contractors, staff, and patrons will pass through a screening checkpoint where they must:
show proof of full vaccination status in paper or digital format (or a medical exemption + negative COVID-19 test result; see section below)
show government ID that matches the name on the vaccination proof
complete a health screening questionnaire (either by displaying the ‘green checkmark’ result on their phone from the online Ontario government survey or by responding verbally questions asked by security personnel)
Acceptable government-issued IDs include:
Birth certificate
Citizenship card
Driver’s license
Government-issued ID card (Ontario issued or other), including health card
Indian Status card/indigenous membership card
Passport
Permanent resident card
People are considered fully vaccinated after receiving the full series of a COVID-19 vaccine or combination of COVID-19 vaccines approved by Health Canada (e.g., two doses of a two-dose vaccine series, one dose of a single-dose vaccine series or three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine not approved by Health Canada).
Exhibiting staff who cannot receive the vaccine due to medical exemptions will be permitted entry with the following in lieu of vaccination proof:
written documentation completed and supplied by a physician (designated as “MD”) or by a registered nurse in the extended class (designated as “Registered Nurse (Extended Class)”, “RN(EC)”, “Nurse Practitioner” or “NP”). The documentation must include:
- Name and contact information of the physician or registered nurse in the extended class;
- Logo or letterhead identifying the physician or registered nurse in the extended class;
- Statement that there is a medical reason for the individual’s exemption from being fully vaccinated against COVID-19; and
- Any effective time-period for the medical reason which includes the date the patron is seeking access to the business or organization.
government ID that matches the name on the medical exemption
a daily negative COVID-19 antigen test result that is not more than 24hrs old at time of entry to the convention centre. Self-administered at-home tests will not be accepted. These antigen tests, and all costs associated, will be the exclusive responsibility of the individual.
Please plan accordingly and allow extra time when arriving each day.
Use of Masks and Face Coverings
As per a City of Toronto bylaw (PDF), all exhibitors, contractors, staff, and patrons, are required to wear a mask or face covering at all times while inside the convention centre.
The mask or face covering should fit snugly against the face without gaps. Masks should be made of at least two layers of tightly woven fabric (such as cotton or linen), and, if possible, a middle “filter” layer. A three-layer mask can provide added protection. Neck gaiters, bandanas, masks with exhaust valves and face shields without masks are not permitted. This applies to all people aged 2 and older.
Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including surgical/procedure mask and eye protection (goggles or face shield) must be worn if, while providing service in your booth you or your staff are
required to come within two metres of another person who is not wearing a mask or face covering; and
are not separated by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier from a person described above.
Train your employees on mask requirements, including who is entitled to an exception and the proper use of a cloth mask or face covering (PDF).
Exhibitors can remove their mask to eat or drink in a designated area (see the Food and Beverage section below).
Complimentary non-medical 3-ply masks will be available from the Art Toronto Info Desk for individuals who forget or lose their mask.
Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
Hands should be washed often and touching the face with unwashed hands should be avoided.
Coughs and sneezes should be covered or directed into an elbow.
Bring hand sanitizer (70-90% alcohol concentration) to have available within your booth for employees and patrons to use.
Educate your employees on proper hand hygiene (PDF) and respiratory etiquette (PDF).
Facilitate Physical Distancing
Limit the number of employees working within the booth at any one time; employees should maintain physical distancing from each other and patrons, where possible (people who live in the same household are not required to maintain a physical distance from each other)
Arrange booth layout with only essential furniture/items to allow ease of movement for physical distancing.
You may wish to place visual / textural markers (e.g. removable tape on the floor, pylons, signs) spaced two metres apart in relevant areas within your booth such as in front of counters or tables.
Contact Tracing
For patrons: the ticket purchaser will be considered the primary contact for any guests and will be expected to have contact info for each member of their party.
For Exhibitors: all exhibiting staff must be registered for a badge. Exhibitor staff badges must be worn at all times and be clearly visible to security personnel who will scan the badge each time the exhibitor enters the exhibit hall.
Where necessary, Art Toronto may provide ticketholder and exhibitor contact details including name, email, and phone number to Toronto Public Health to support contact tracing if it is relevant to an incident of COVID-19 exposure on a particular day. Otherwise, Art Toronto will retain this personal information for 30 days and then destroy it.
Exhibitor should maintain their own staff schedule/log for 30 days, including information on the area for which each staff is responsible (this includes move-in and move-out help, as well as anyone packing or handling product or booth components prior to or following the show.)
Contactless Ticketing for Patrons
All tickets will be provided digitally. No tickets will be sold at the door, and patrons will be encouraged to pre-purchase tickets at arttoronto.ca prior to attending the event.
Upon entry, patrons can either present their tickets on their mobile device or print out their digital ticket and present it at the door for scanning.
Exhibitors will have access to a digital portal to assign digital e-tickets to their guests. No printed tickets will be issued.
There will be NO re-admission or re-entry passes at this year’s event except to those who purchase a Collector’s Pass.
Minimum Physical Contact
Consider a contact-free approach to greet your fellow exhibitors and Art Toronto patrons.
The exchange of printed materials, such as business cards, brochures, and catalogues are also discouraged. Consider using QR codes that patrons can scan to follow you on Instagram, sign up to your email list or learn about your artworks. You can easily generate QR codes using the Chrome browser. Click here to learn how. Instagram also has a built-in feature to generate a QR code to link to your profile directly.
Limit the use of cash; encourage electronic payment by debit or credit card, and to tap instead of using the PIN pad, and assign one staff member to process all transactions.
Install plastic or equivalent covers on point-of-sale equipment for easy sanitation between uses.
Cleaning and Disinfecting
Ensure you clean and disinfect high-touch areas within your booth as frequently as is necessary to maintain a sanitary condition. This applies to POS terminals, computers and other devices or surfaces. Follow standard procedures for cleaning and disinfection (PDF).
Consider the location of disinfectant wipes and sanitizers. The closer your wipes are to your point-of-sale equipment, for example, the more likely you are to disinfect it after every use. Create simple and convenient systems to help you stay on top of disinfecting.
Remove decorative soft/porous items from your booth that are difficult to sanitize such as upholstery, cushions and rugs.
Prepare a plan/schedule that includes what areas require enhanced cleaning, what products will be used to clean and disinfect and how often cleaning and disinfecting is required. Your plan should also indicate who on your team is responsible for the cleaning.
Food and Beverage
Exhibitors are to consume food and drink in areas away from patrons and where two metres physical distancing can be accommodated. An exhibitor lounge will be located in Hall A near the passenger elevator. This area will allow for physical distancing and face coverings can be removed while individuals are seated and actively eating or drinking.
COVID-19 Notification
Exhibitors must notify Art Toronto Show Management as soon as they become aware of an employee who tests positive for COVID-19 while at Art Toronto or within 14 days of having been at Art Toronto.
Exhibitors must immediately notify Toronto Public Health at +1 (416) 338-7600 as soon as they become aware of two or more employees who test positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day interval in connection with their workplace premises, as per Toronto Public Health Instructions for Workplaces (PDF).
Applicable Legislation
Exhibitors and contractors must stay up to date on legal requirements as the situation evolves and must follow all relevant requirements set out in:
The Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 (ROA)
Directives from the Chief Medical Officer of Health
Toronto Public Health orders
Any other relevant legislation