Breaking News: HIMSS20 CANCELLED
In an announcement made yesterday, March 5th, it was announced that HIMSS20 will be cancelled this year due to concern over the coronavirus outbreak.
The event was scheduled to take place March 9-13 in Orlando, Florida, and this is the first time in 58 years that it has been cancelled. HIMSS has been keeping a close eye on the fast-changing worldwide coronavirus situation for weeks, and said the decision to cancel comes in light of recent reports from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
HIMSS leadership has been gathering to discuss the situation at-length, in coordination with an external advisory panel of medical professionals to support evidence-based decision making. The advisory panel recognized that industry understanding of the potential reach of the virus has changed significantly in the last 24 hours, which has made it impossible to accurately assess risk.
“We recognize all the hard work that so many have put into preparing for their presentations and panels that accompany every HIMSS conference,” said Hal Wolf, president and CEO of HIMSS, in a statement.
“Based on evaluation of evolving circumstances and coordination with an external advisory panel of medical professionals to support evidence-based decision making, it is clear that it would be an unacceptable risk to bring so many thousands of people together in Orlando next week.”
HIMSS20 has announced that exhibitors and attendees will be contacted with further information regarding booth contracts and registrations (contact exhibitors@himss.org for immediate booth concerns). Further updates regarding HIMSS20 will be published on himssconference.org. There is a HIMSS20 Cancellation FAQ page available for more information.
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