As fears over the coronavirus continue to sweep the world, and Italy announces a country-wide lockdown, there's a ripple effect on major events and public gatherings in affected areas. At the time of publishing, international packaging trade show interpack is maintaining its 'all systems go' stance for the May event, with no stated plans to postpone the exhibition.
The once-every-three years interpack is scheduled to take place in just two months' time, 7-13 May, and would typically attract upwards of 170,000 visitors, including around 2000 from Australia and New Zealand, to the booths of 2900 exhibitors.
The interpack location, Messe Centre Düsseldorf, recently postponed half-a-dozen shows scheduled to run in March, including ProWein which attracts around 60,000 visitors, as well as trade shows Tube, Wire, Energy Storage, and a couple of hairdressing events.
The Messe Centre has launched a website on visitor safety at the show in light of the virus. Click here for details.
PKN has been in touch with several key exhibitors who say they are on "watch and wait" alert to hear whether the show will be postponed, some speculating it might be moved to October and others to 2021. At this stage it is but speculation.
It's hoped that if a change is to be announced, it will be soon, given the lead time required for building exhibits, especially some of the bigger stands.
In the current dynamic situation, PKN is in touch with the interpack organisers and will keep the Australian and Kiwi packaging communities informed of all developments as they happen. Many Australian and New Zealand packaging professionals have already booked their flights and accommodation for the event.
In Berlin over the weekend, Health Minister Jens Spahn said Germany should cancel public gatherings of more than 1000 people in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus. However, under Germany's federal system, it is up to local health authorities in Germany's 16 regions to decide whether to implement bans on large events.
As of today (10 March), there are 1176 confirmed cases in Germany, with the first two fatalities ocurring overnight, both in the region that includes Düsseldorf. Globally, some 116,000 cases have so far been confirmed – the vast majority in China's Hubei province – with 63,000 patients having recovered, but some 4000 fatalities recorded, almost all among people aged 70+. Outside of China, Italy has recorded the highest incidence of cases, more than 9000.
Overnight Italy announced a countrywide lockdown, creating a "protected area" for the whole of Italy, with closures to schools and universities and the issuing of a decree to stop all sporting activities, including Serie A football matches. Neighbouring France and Switzerland have placed serious restrictions on large gatherings; France has banned gatherings of more than 5000 people and postponed the Paris marathon which has over 65,000 entrants; Switzerland has said no more than 1000 people in any one place at any one time. Global wide-format print show Fespa, scheduled to take place in Madrid, Spain later this month, has been postponed, as has the London Book Fair which was due to run this week, and the Sign and Digital show scheduled for Birominham next month.
To postpone or not to...
The ramifications of postponing the big shows are large, especially for the show's owners who will lose significant revenue, although losing money will not be their highest concern.
Not postponing is equally fraught though, as visitors may stay away anyway if the virus is still going strong in May. Chinese exhibitors – of whom there are many – will face issues, and there is always the possibility of the German government pulling the pin closer to the date.
The interpack organiser is in a constant state of review, and ultimately will be guided by the German authorities. “Of course, we are taking our customers' inquiries regarding the coronavirus seriously,” said Werner Dornscheidt, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, “so we will re-evaluate the situation in good time in consultation with health authorities and partners in order to make the appropriate decisions.”
In postponing the March shows Messe Düsseldorf followed the recommendation of the crisis management team of the German government, to take into account the principles of the Robert Koch Institute when making a risk assessment of major events. Added to this is the uncertainty of numerous exhibitors, and visitors, at the events in March and the complicated travel situation, especially for international customers.
Dornscheidt said, “Our customers, partners and employees trust us. Not only when it comes to the professional and successful handling of major international events in Düsseldorf, they can also have this trust in us when we make decisions about critical situations in the interests of their safety.”
The Messe Centre is addressing concerns with its new visitor safety website. It says, “As exhibitors and visitors, you can expect a high level of hygiene, safety and good medical care at the Düsseldorf trade fair grounds as usual. Messe Düsseldorf is closely monitoring current developments and is in direct contact with the health authorities.”
The website says that according to the World Health Organisation, the Robert Koch Institute and the German authorities, the risk of infection with this new pathogen in Germany is currently moderate. It says the medical facilities at the Düsseldorf exhibition centre have the latest information at all times and are well prepared, and says there are clearly defined procedures for looking after anyone on the premises of the trade fair grounds who suddenly develops symptoms of a serious disease. These procedures were developed and tested at the time of Sars, the Influenza A (H1N1) virus and also EHEC.
Messe Düsseldorf will provide its guests, partners and members of staff with hand disinfection dispensers in the toilets, washrooms, in the area in front of the trade fair doctor’s office/out-patient facility as well as at the entrance concourses. Messe Düsseldorf has also shortened the cleaning intervals for toilets and washrooms. Contact surfaces (including door handles, handrails and switches) on doors, lifts, staircases and moving walkways are now being cleaned several times daily. Furthermore, Messe Düsseldorf is informing all guests, partners and employees about hygiene and prevention tips made by the Federal Office for Health Education on posters dotted around the showground.
