The Australian Rheumatology Association (ARA) has announced the cancellation of its annual conference scheduled for 16-19 May in Sydney, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement released on Friday 13 March,  the ARA Board says they have accepted the unanimous recommendations from the conference organising committee that the 2020 ASM should be cancelled.

If it had gone ahead, the conference would have coincided with the predicted peak of peak of infections in mid-May 2020, the statement from ARA President Associate Professor Dave Nicholls says.

Conference attendance was already affected by bans on travel and meeting participation implemented by many hospitals, universities and healthcare services, the ARA notes. And many rheumatologists would be reluctant to attend because their practice would have faced shutdown in the event of illness or quarantine.

Pharmaceutical sponsors have also voiced concerns about being unable to be present at the ASM, due to company travel restrictions.

“In addition to this advice, the Board considered the welfare of ARA members, and the importance at this time of a healthy workforce. Our patients need us to be ready, willing and able to assist where we can over the weeks and months ahead,” the statement notes.

Professor Nicholls says the Board wanted to thank the local organising committee led by Dr Geraldine Hassett for the work they have done to prepare the program and speakers for the meeting.

“I know that there will be a great deal of disappointment, but these are unforeseen events,” he writes.

According to the ARA, requests for full refunds of registration fees can be directed to the organisers. The ARA AGM will be held as a web based or virtual meeting.