Covid-19: I Think Serious Consideration Should Be Given To Cancel International Conventions And....

[global1]

Meetings around the country.

As the Covid-19 issue evolves and everyday we're finding out that more countries and people are being infected - we need to proceed with an abundance of caution.

I know that planners of such meetings take into account the 'financial implications' of such a decision. These conventions/meetings cost a lot of money and they also generate a lot of money as well. But I believe it is short-sighted to take only money into account.

Bringing in to this country - people from all over the world - to converge on a city and a venue - is putting not only the attendees at risk - but it is putting the people that work the venues; union people that assemble and dismantle booths; people that work the halls - all in danger of coming into contact with someone that might be infected or carry the Covid-19 virus.

It is also putting the city that these conventions/meetings are being held in - in danger as well. Attendees will be using airports; public transportation; hotels and hotel workers; restaurants and shopping areas in danger.

Planners of these events need to be responsible and take all this in consideration and serious consider postponing or cancelling these international conventions/meetings until more is known about how this virus is transmitted and managed.

People's health and lives may be at stake here. I rather we be safe than sorry.

[MontanaMama]

1. Nestle has 350,000-ish employees

and they’ve halted international business travel and curtailing domestic trips as well. It occurs to me that corporate CEO’s may know more about the severity of this illness than we do. Senator Blumenthal said we would be shocked if we knew what they knew. I figure that senators are leaking this upsetting info to their friends and business associates. I’m watching what they DO not so much listening to what they say.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/nestle-tells-global-staff-to-halt-international-travel-curtail-domestic-trips-11582741050

https://www.c-span.org/video/?469682-6/senator-blumenthal-coronavirus-outbreak

[beachbumbob]

2. not possible in US at this moment as it would mean too much financial loss

we may see in coming weeks/months, but not near term

[global1]

7. Think Of The Financial Loss If This Virus Spreads Across The U.S. Without Us Taking....

proper precautions. If we wait too long - it will cost us more in financial loss.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I believe we must be pro-active.

I mentioned it in my OP - many of these meeting planners are thinking about the 'financial implications' of postponing or cancelling a meeting. I really believe that is short-sighted.

The stock market slide is the only thing that is motivating Trump. He's not concerned about you or I or our families and friends. He's only concerned about himself.

That kind of thinking will put us all in danger.

[RockRaven]

3. For example, the Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo this summer

It seems pretty reckless to me to proceed with an event specifically designed to bring people from all over the world to one place for a few weeks and then disburse them back all over the globe.

[MissB]

5. They've said they may cancel

I think it was yesterday that they said they’d make a decision in the next few weeks. I’m guessing it’ll be sooner than that as Japan has closed all schools thru April.

They said the decision would be cancel or not, and rescheduling wouldn’t be an option.

[C_U_L8R]

4. Many already canceled

Like the big mobile conference in Barcelona. Murmers of SXSW cancelling too

[Coventina]

6. Just went to a large international conference in Chicago a few weeks ago.

I was wondering if they would cancel at the last minute, as I know a lot of the scholars were coming from China.
But, it went forward.

[global1]

9. In My Opinion - Holding That Meeting Was Irresponsible....

all attendees were put into danger as well as the whole City of Chicago. Not good.

[Coventina]

10. Well, it was an academic conference. If it had been canceled at the last minute

the organization putting it on (College Art Association) would have been bankrupted.
An organization that has been in place well over a century, and has been of untold benefit to the arts in this country and around the world.

I'm glad they didn't cancel. But I'm also glad it's over.

[Pachamama]

8. Summer Olympics 2020 Tokyo....

Have not heard one single mention about it....

Yet I think its insane that they would not right now be considering canceling and moving it to next year or the following once we get past this pandemic.

[babylonsister]

11. Coronavirus could force cancellation of Tokyo Olympics, IOC member says

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/25/coronavirus-tokyo-games-ioc-member-says-more-likely-to-cancel-than-move.html

[Pachamama]

12. Didn't see that - but I am glad someone is saying what needs to be said

I predict it will be canceled....I certainly wouldn't go even if offered tickets. I think its too risky.

[HopeAgain]

13. I'm not taking any cruises, that's for sure. nt

[Croney]

14. Two nights ago at TD Garden watching the Bruins get hammered

by Calgary, I looked around at the thousands of people and thought how the chance one of them had recently returned from vacation in Northern Italy was greater than zero.