ILSA Statement Regarding the 2020 International Rounds & the COVID-19 Virus

Posted on by Chris Bonnez

ILSA has been closely monitoring the situation regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and will continue to access the latest information and recommendations from federal and local authorities, including the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The safety and well-being of all Jessup participants, judges, staff and volunteers is always ILSA’s highest priority. Current guidance does not recommend cancelling or postponing conferences in or travel to the United States. As of now, the 2020 White & Case International Rounds will proceed as scheduled on 12-18 April 2020 in Washington, DC.

Though there have to date been no coronavirus cases reported in Washington, DC, ILSA encourages all Jessup community members and participants to consult the CDC’s guidance, including its frequently asked questions related to COVID-19, its prevention guidance, and its updated travel notices. We also recommend following the WHO’s coronavirus resource page. We plan to issue specific recommendations to all participants at the International Rounds and to work with the competition venue to maximize hygiene practices. We may also make programmatic changes based around the situation should that be necessary.

We are encouraging all Jessup 2020 International Rounds participants to continue to communicate with travel companies and their school communities to make informed decisions on travel, including with respect to flight routes, insurance and contingency arrangements. If you are not able to participate in the International Rounds as a result of the current situation regarding COVID-19, we ask that you let us know as soon as possible.

ILSA will continue to monitor this evolving situation as we get closer to the dates of the International Rounds. We ask all participants to assist in this endeavor, and we encourage you to share with us via email any local regulations or any airline or airport closures or bans, so that we can continue to give the best advice we can to all teams, judges and volunteers.

These challenging times serve to remind us of the Jessup Competition’s global vision of fellowship and mutual support in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances, including the one we are now facing. We thank our global community for its support of all of those directly impacted by these developments.

-ILSA and the Jessup Competition