It’s a gloomy outlook for medical conference fans this year with many major events being cancelled or postponed due to the threat of coronavirus.
Stroke specialists expecting to take part in the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Annual Scientific Sessions set for March 28 – 30 in Chicago have been told it has been cancelled due to increasing concerns about the outbreak of COVID-19.
However at this stage, local and international neurology meetings remain unaffected.
Locally, ANZAN is monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak and is continuing with plans to hold their 2020 annual scientific meeting in Melbourne in May.
“However safety of delegates will be our chief concern and we will keep updating this site if the situation changes,” a statement on the conference website said.
Overseas, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is soldiering ahead with their Annual Meeting scheduled to start April 25 in Toronto.
Hand sanitisers and microphone covers will be in while handshakes will be out, a statement on the conference website said.
“At this time we continue to actively monitor the impact of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus), and also continue to actively prepare for what we do best – putting on the world’s best neurology conference.”
But whether Australians will be allowed to or want to travel to the meeting remains to be seen.
Already WA has banned their public sector employees from non-critical, work-related international travel.