As the states are slowly reopening in the first half of May, many annual events are still not happening in 2020 at all. There is no official order to cancel the mass gatherings until the next year, but the organizers make this decision by themselves. Let’s see why.
1. Travel ban
International shows are dealing with the travel ban, which makes it impossible to sell the booths to their regulars from abroad. For now, travelers from China, UK, Canada, most European countries can not enter the United States. As the US Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said it was “too hard to tell” if the US will lose the travel ban this year. So if an exhibit depends on its international accounts, it won’t happen in 2020.
2. CDC recommendations
Some fairs, like the AD Design Show in New York and Art Basel in Miami, are planning to arrive later this year, indicating that the potential economic impact of canceling these shows is more significant than the new obstacles they will have to go through. Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued the guide on how to plan and proceed with mass gatherings. According to it, the organization will have to establish relationships with “key community partners” like the local health department, vendors, hospitals, hotels, airlines, law enforcement. Also, provide face masks, gloves, and sanitizers to event staff and participants, routinely disinfect surfaces. Plus, find a way to limit in-person contact between the team members and create flexible refund policies for participants, so they will stay home if they feel sick. This way, the mass event planning becomes even more troublesome, and the responsibilities much severe.
3. Contributing to the spread of disease
Business is business. Several expos are planning to appear as soon as the mass gatherings ban in their state is over, while others will patiently wait until the health risks are minimal. Many organizations understand that the impact of their decision to open or not to open for public this year is enormous. It may affect both the image of the company and the spread of the virus. Who wants to be responsible for the next outbreak?
4. Uncertain future
Specialists say that the second wave of coronavirus outbreak is inevitable, and it may begin this fall and continue through the winter. This assumption makes it too risky to plan any large-scale events for that time; last-minute cancellations would bring an unpleasant hustle.
The fair organizers face not only the ethical dilemma — health or business, but also the mystery — are people going to show up?
