In light of continuing global concerns about the coronavirus (COVID-19), which has sickened nearly 100,000 people worldwide, AVIXA’s Rochelle Richardson, CEM, Senior VP, Expositions, offered an update regarding InfoComm 2020.
Show management and executive staff are continuing to monitor the evolving situation, and they’re heeding the advice of public-health authorities. According to Richardson, exhibitors, attendees and staff should know that health and safety is AVIXA’s paramount concern.
Currently, InfoComm 2020 will proceed as planned from June 13 to 19 in Las Vegas NV. All future decisions will be made in accordance with then-current guidelines provided by public-health authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Southern Nevada Health District. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) are also in the loop.
According to the WHO, “If you are not in an area where COVID-19 is spreading, or if you have not traveled from one of those areas or have not been in close contact with someone who has and is feeling unwell, your chances of getting it are currently low.”
In cooperation with the LVCC and the LVCVA, AVIXA has put the following safety precautions in place:
- Increased cleaning protocols, including more frequent wiping and disinfecting of touchpoints in the facility during occupied show hours. These include door handles, elevator buttons, handrails, restroom stall doors and sinks.
- Additional hand sanitizer stations in strategically placed areas throughout the facility.
- An increase of the outside-air intake/air-change rates during occupied show hours.
- Reinforced standard employee-health practices, including sending employees home and/or encouraging employees to stay home if they are sick or manifesting health symptoms that could affect colleagues or guests.
- Reinforced standard food-safety-awareness programs, including frequent hand-washing and making alcohol-based hand gel/rub available at every food station and every table at food outlets.
Additionally, as per WHO advisories, InfoComm suggests that all onsite attendees and personnel follow these precautions:
- Avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
- Wash hands frequently, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment.
- Practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands frequently).
- Practice social distancing by avoiding handshaking or excessive physical contact. A simple verbal greeting or fist bump will do
According to Richardson, “Our thoughts are with all the members of our community who are affected by the coronavirus. We understand there are exhibitors and participants that may decide not to attend this year’s show, and [we] respect everyone’s decision to do what is in their best interest. We continue to receive positive responses from many of our exhibitors confirming their commitment to attend the show, and [we’re] ahead of pace with attendee registration year-over-year.”