Corona virus: further business events are cancelled
The federal government has banned events with more than 1000 participants (since March 13: with more than 100 participants) because of the risk of infection by the Corona virus. This also affects some larger business events that should have taken place in the next few days.
For the Autosalon, Baselworld, Giardina or also the nonwovens trade fair Index in Geneva, the Corona virus meant the end. Due to the risk of infection, the Federal Council banned major events with reference to the epidemic law. But even smaller events, which are no less prominent within the economic community, have to bow to the ban these days. The award ceremony of the Prix SVC Ostschweiz, planned for March 5, 2020, has been postponed indefinitely. The Swiss Venture Club as organizer will observe the development in these days and hopes to be able to make up for the award ceremony at a later date, according to reports. As soon as a final decision has been made, information will be provided again, the OC further announced.
The "special situation" proclaimed by the Federal Council also forces the Swiss Marketing Forum to take a special measure: The Executive Committee has decided to definitely cancel the Marketing Day on March 10, 2020 at the KKL. "Everything that makes up Marketing Day prohibits us from holding it: handshake, networking, Face 2 Face, the shared experience, moving together - not only in the concert hall," regrets the OC. But because about 1000 guests are expected for this event, the organizers could not decide otherwise. A postponement to the fall of 2020 is being considered at best. The tickets retain their validity and can be used for a possible postponement date.
Update March 6, 2020:
The federal order is expected to last until March 15, 2020. Depending on how the situation with the Corona virus develops, other occasions could be affected, such as the SME Swiss Forum at the Trafo Baden on March 19. According to information from KMU Swiss, the permit for this event has been issued by the canton of Aargau. However, the organizer must comply with the condition that visitors who have previously been in crisis regions such as northern Italy or China may not be admitted, as well as people who show symptoms of illness on the day of the event. Should the situation change by then, the participants will be informed accordingly.
Update March 13, 2020:
- The Board of Directors of the Swiss Trade Association sgv has decided, taking into account the current situation regarding Covid-19, to postpone the Gewerbekongress 2020 scheduled for April 29, 2020. The new date is October 27, 2020 at the Forum Fribourg.
- The HR Festival on March 31 / April 1 will be postponed to a date yet to be determined. Also cancelled or postponed is the presentation of the Swiss HR Award. This event will take place - also on a date not yet known - as a separate event. This is announced by the organizers.
- As the FOPH has decided to ban events with more than 100 participants, the KMU SWISS Forum 2020 (see above) on Thursday, March 19, 2020, is now also cancelled. The organizer is about to postpone the forum, with the same program as this year, to next year on Thursday, March 18, 2021. The focus is now on the detailed planning of the KMU SWISS panel on September 3, 2020.
