For those of us still trying to avoid illness, I give high marks for the OHBM venue (Brisbane convention center): CO2 levels have stayed quite low in the auditorium, poster hall, and common areas. The symposium rooms were not as good; if more than a quarter or so full the CO2 increases rapidly. I also like that there are many easy-to-reach nice outdoor gathering places, and the opening night reception included a large patio.
None of that helps much when unmasked folks are talking loudly at close proximity, unfortunately, which happens a lot at posters, dinners, bars, etc. I'm not the only attendee masking (and no hassle about it), but we are in the distinct minority.
Mentions and black humor about covid and "colds" started at the opening ceremony and keep popping up; plenty of coughing and at least one person saying they were currently running a fever. It'd be interesting to track proportion coughing on the audio recordings over the conference and see if it actually increases or just seems to.
I haven't usually been the only person masking on trains, buses, or in shops around Brisbane, either, which is nice.
#stillMasking #Aranet4 #OHBM2025 #CovidIsNotOver #OHBM