Coronavirus puts certain events on hold
SEVERAL events across the country have been cancelled or postponed following the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19).
Sustainable Seas Trust yesterday announced the postponement of its international conference, “The Towards Zero Plastics to the Seas of Africa Conference”, which would have seen at least 350 international, national and local delegates in attendance, arriving from Africa, Asia, Australia, America and Europe.
“Sustainable Seas Trust and its board of trustees feel that safeguarding the health of all who attend the conference must take precedence over all other considerations.
“Postponing the conference until it’s safer to travel is the responsible thing to do,” said trust spokesperson Sharné Woods.
“We haven’t taken this decision lightly. We’ve thoroughly consulted our international advisory panel and government authorities.
“Most of our international speakers and delegates have responded positively to the news as they were anxious about travel, especially those who had to get to South Africa via countries which have high infection rates of Covid-19.
“All speakers and delegates already registered have indicated that they wish to participate in the conference when a new date has been set,” Woods added.
A new date will be set when global travel is less restricted.
The 2020 Global Leadership Conference scheduled for Cape Town has been cancelled due to the major uncertainties the conference’s global membership and staff face with the unpredictable spread of Covid-19 to new locations and changing travel restrictions, the organisers said.
Insol International, a worldwide federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers who specialise in turnaround and insolvency has also cancelled its upcoming conference in Cape Town.
Organisers will refund registration fees or transfer them for application to its 2021 congress in San Diego, US.
The Cape Town International Convention Centre said it had also been affected by event cancellations and postponements.
SA Tourism, meanwhile, said that as one of the largest tourism marketing events on the African calendar, the Africa’s Travel Indaba 2020, from May 12-14, would go ahead as planned.
With new developments happening daily, the agency said it would continue to keep role-players updated.
Premier Alan Winde said last week that events could continue to go ahead at this stage and there were no directives regarding the limiting of large gatherings.