DebConf25 COVID handling feedback
Dear DebConf Team members,
In order to prepare an upcoming debrief of COVID handling at DebConf25,
I would like to get some input on your own perception of the situation
from each of you, as a team member, by answering a few questions below.
This initiative was aggreed to in the 2025-08-12 team meeting on
#debconf-team.
The goal here is absolutely not to point fingers or blame anyone, but
rather to identify organizational failures in the spirit of Just Culture
[1]. This approach is notably used by aviation authorities to
investigate incidents and accidents, and often results in useful
recommendations being issued that are eventually implemented by
operators and authorities.
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_culture
To keep your answers private and avoid a discussion on the list please
DO NOT reply to this message to the list or use "reply all". Instead,
reply directly to my own address and make sure the list is not in copy.
I've set the headers of this message accordingly. Please answer before
03 September.
I will collect the answers, keep them private (PGP messages are fine if
you really care) and prepare a summary without identifying information
that will be shared before a future debriefing session over Jitsi.
Also please note that the content of the policy itself is a separate
discussion. The questions below are about team and volunteers
preparation and handling cases, independently of the policy.
Here are the questions:
- Did you expect COVID cases to be an issue at DebConf25?
- Do you remember if the COVID policy and procedures were discussed
during the preparation of the event, and if so could you summarize in a
few words what you remember from these discussions?
- Do you think the DebConf Team was well prepared and equipped to handle
COVID cases or other health or emergency issues at DebConf25?
- During DebCamp/Conf25, do you remember seeing people that appeared to
have potential COVID symptoms and should have worn a mask but did not?
- During DebCamp/Conf25, were you directly contacted or approached by
people complaining about other attendees not wearing face masks?
- During DebCamp/Conf25, did you have to ask any attendee to wear a mask
and/or remain out of the venue? Did you / would you feel safe and
comfortable doing so?
- Feel free to add other comments, just please try to keep them
reasonably concise.
Thank you for your time and your collaboration!
Best regards,
--
Julien Plissonneau Duquène
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