Two European laboratory conferences have been postponed this week due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19. In a statement released on the analytica website, conference organisers state: ‘Due to the increasing spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Europe and on the basis of the recommendations of the Bavarian State Government as well as of the responsible health authorities, Messe München feels compelled to postpone analytica 2020.’
‘Under the given circumstances, opening analytica in late March would not be justifiable towards our customers, in particular from a medical and economic perspective,’ commented Dr Reinhard Pfeiffer, deputy chairman of the board of management of Messe München and responsible for analytica.
The Paperless Lab Academy (PLA2020) has also been postponed. In a press release announced earlier this week, organisers reported that: ‘We have been monitoring and evaluating the evolution of the COVID-19 situation and we also have received various communications that several companies, both sponsors and participants, do not allow their representatives to travel, especially in the region of North Italy. These restrictions have been already extended for the next weeks in some cases. There are restrictions on flights from various European and non-European countries to this area of Italy and some governments have introduced restrictive measures for their citizens to this destination.’
Both events are being scheduled for later in 2020, analytica is scheduled for October 19–22 while PLA2020 is planned to be held on June 3-4 this year. ‘Postponing it to the new date in fall is the measure necessary to offer manufacturers and visitors an optimal platform for their business, and to build on analytica’s previous success,’ added Siegbert Holtermüller, chairman of the Exhibitors’ Advisory Board of analytica.
