VLDB 2021: Information about the COVID-19 Pandemic [UPD: 17 August 2021, 10:15 CEST]

Even if we expect constraints in terms of travel restrictions and social distancing, we are committed to organizing a hybrid conference, combining a meeting with a critical mass in Copenhagen, and a strong virtual presence. Despite the hardships and uncertainties, we are optimistic that VLDB 2021 will be an opportunity for our community to get back together. We will follow the Danish government guidelines. They are still evolving, and we will be updating this page accordingly, and regularly to keep you up to date. Every update will be tagged with a timestamp.

Venue

Tivoli Hotel and Congress Center is taking all necessary precautions and best practices defined by the Danish hotel industry and following the Danish health guidelines on COVID-19 at conference spaces. For more information please visit: http://www.tivolihotel.com/covid-19-information. Also, we would like to thank you all in advance for your cooperation.

VLDB 2021 COVID-19 Health Plan

Anyone who experiences COVID-19 symptoms or tests positive should contact the General Chairs and/or the Local Arrangement Chairs immediately. The conference’s COVID-19 Health Plan provides important guidelines for people who have tested positive for COVID-19, close contacts with people with positive tests, and close contacts of close contacts.

Situation in Denmark

As the rule today in Denmark, you do not have to show your corona passport at the conference. But you have to show it when eating on your own at the venue (breakfast, restaurants or lobby bar) or any other indoor restaurant/bar. You will therefore have to show your corona passport at the banquet.
You can document your corona passport by showing one of the following:

  • Having a negative test result that is at most 72 hours old (antigens) / 96 hours old (PCR); OR
  • Showing the proof of being vaccinated (see below); OR
  • Showing the proof of having COVID-19 before.
Your foreign corona passport can be documented both electronically and by presenting printed documentation.

The closest test center (antigens) is at Rådhuspladsen 14, 1550 København V. It takes about 15 minutes from the venue by walking. We will arrange a convoy to the test center after the end of the reception on Tuesday Aug 17 in the evening.

Documentation of Vaccination

If you were vaccinated outside Denmark, your vaccination must meet the following requirements: The vaccine must be approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). You will receive a valid corona passport 14 to 42 days after the date of your first vaccination. In addition, you will receive a valid corona passport immediately after you have been fully vaccinated. If vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson you will have a valid corona passport after 14 days after your (only) vaccination. Another approved vaccination process involves receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine for the first jab and an mRNA vaccine (Spikevax (from Moderna) or Comirnaty (from Pfizer-BioNTech) for the second.

So far, the EMA has approved the following vaccines against COVID-19:

  • Pfizer BioNTech (Comirnaty)
  • Johnson & Johnson - Janssen Pharmaceutical (COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen)
  • Spikevax (formerly COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna) from Moderna
  • Vaxzevria (formerly COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca)

Travel to Denmark

Denmark categorizes countries into 4 colors (green, yellow, orange, red), and the rules & regulations for entry changes based on these colors as well as based on the people's vaccination status. You can find information of colors of certain countries at https://en.coronasmitte.dk/rules-and-regulations/entry-into-denmark/categorization-of-countries and the rules for each color. This page also shows how the rules changes if you are already vaccinated, had COVID previously, or are traveling on a negative COVID test. Please read the information on this page carefully.

If you cannot see the name of the country you are entering from in the above link, you can check its color using https://um.dk/da/rejse-og-ophold/rejse-til-udlandet/rejsevejledninger , which unfortunately in Danish, and you may need to first use a translator to see what the name of the country you are traveling from corresponds to in Danish.

If your status (country you are arriving from and COVID-vaccination/immunity) require you to take a test after you land in Denmark, do not worry. This process is streamlined at Copenhagen airport on the path to your exit.

We recommend everyone to double-check this page 3 days prior to entry in Denmark, since rules tend to change quickly these days.

Regardless of rules for entering Denmark, the airline you are traveling with and the country you are traveling from have their own COVID rules, and we encourage you to check them separately.

We will be posting information regarding the checks at the venue as well as the easiest way to get tested when you are in Copenhagen very soon!

Testing in Copenhagen

All the test centers (both for PCR and Antigen test) in Denmark are listed and shown on the map in the following link https://international.kk.dk/artikel/get-tested-covid-19. Please search for "Test places in Copenhagen" in this page, and you will find a list of PCR and Antigen test centers in Copenhagen that also serve foreigners.

Other travel news

EU plans to allow fully vaccinated people from USA to visit even without essential travel during summer.