This is of note as the squabbling around the cost of cancelling MWC is coming into focus.
The GSMA is trying to argue that events were beyond their control.
The WHO says there were no scientific grounds for cancelling the event. Flights from China are arriving every day.
Those who have lost money claim other international fairs continue to go ahead around the world and in Barcelona. MWC is just a couple weeks and only four days of official presence in a conference setting that hosts major international events throughout the year.
I'm fine with Spain taking risks with the spread of Coronavirus, if that is what they (and you want) to do, but, I'm not fine with the risk of aggravating an epidemic into a Pandemic so that you can get off on a bunch of products that you won't buy anyway. You always want evidence, but National Security is about risk, and right now, the risk of a pandemic is reason enough to reduce international travel. China's economy is getting hammered simply because the Autocratic Chinese Government covered up the Coronavirus early.
I don't trust the WHO at all after their statements wrt to China "doing a good job" when the evidence was absolutely not that. Even now the WHO is waffling on the virility of the Coronavirus, which actually has a name, COVID 19.
As noted, trade fairs continue to take place around the world and flights arrive from China every day. Fira Barcelona has 400,000sqm available, a full schedule and brings in 2,500,000 visitors a year. That puts the 100,000 MWC attendees into perspective.
The WHO angle is vital here because it will be used by claimants to argue the lack of any scientific evidence warranting the cancellation.
"With the right precautions, we believe that many of these events can be held; there is no need to scare people
MICHAEL J. RYAN, WHO HEALTH EMERGENCY PROGRAM DIRECTOR."
But then...
"Most scientists and experts consulted by this newspaper insisted that there was no public health reason to cancel the trade show. One exception was Oriol Mitjà, a specialist in infectious diseases at Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital in Badalona, in Catalonia.
“The transmission of the infection is high and hard to control,” he said. “According to mathematical models developed by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, with just three imported infections there is a probability of over 50% for a local outbreak to occur.”
This expert noted that MWC was expecting nearly 20,000 visitors from the Asia Pacific region, including over 5,000 from China. He said that confined spaces full of people “are ideal for the transmission of respiratory viruses.”
No, it isn't going to get messy. MWC cancelled, and for good cause.
"A passenger fell ill with suspected coronavirus on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Heathrow this morning.
The unnamed passenger was reportedly isolated at the back of the plane, but staff dealing with the incident were not said to be wearing face masks or protective clothing.
Other passengers were later released from the plane, but Andy West, from Henley-on-Thames, told Sky News that they were not given any advice about what to do next.
Public Health England have so far declined to comment on the individual case."
Kind of casual lack of precautions I'd say, but the UK's economy is in tatters, so what else is there to do? /s
This is of note as the squabbling around the cost of cancelling MWC is coming into focus.
The GSMA is trying to argue that events were beyond their control.
The WHO says there were no scientific grounds for cancelling the event. Flights from China are arriving every day.
Those who have lost money claim other international fairs continue to go ahead around the world and in Barcelona. MWC is just a couple weeks and only four days of official presence in a conference setting that hosts major international events throughout the year.
I'm fine with Spain taking risks with the spread of Coronavirus, if that is what they (and you want) to do, but, I'm not fine with the risk of aggravating an epidemic into a Pandemic so that you can get off on a bunch of products that you won't buy anyway. You always want evidence, but National Security is about risk, and right now, the risk of a pandemic is reason enough to reduce international travel. China's economy is getting hammered simply because the Autocratic Chinese Government covered up the Coronavirus early.
I don't trust the WHO at all after their statements wrt to China "doing a good job" when the evidence was absolutely not that. Even now the WHO is waffling on the virility of the Coronavirus, which actually has a name, COVID 19.
As noted, trade fairs continue to take place around the world and flights arrive from China every day. Fira Barcelona has 400,000sqm available, a full schedule and brings in 2,500,000 visitors a year. That puts the 100,000 MWC attendees into perspective.
The WHO angle is vital here because it will be used by claimants to argue the lack of any scientific evidence warranting the cancellation.
"With the right precautions, we believe that many of these events can be held; there is no need to scare people
MICHAEL J. RYAN, WHO HEALTH EMERGENCY PROGRAM DIRECTOR."
But then...
"Most scientists and experts consulted by this newspaper insisted that there was no public health reason to cancel the trade show. One exception was Oriol Mitjà, a specialist in infectious diseases at Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital in Badalona, in Catalonia.
“The transmission of the infection is high and hard to control,” he said. “According to mathematical models developed by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, with just three imported infections there is a probability of over 50% for a local outbreak to occur.”
This expert noted that MWC was expecting nearly 20,000 visitors from the Asia Pacific region, including over 5,000 from China. He said that confined spaces full of people “are ideal for the transmission of respiratory viruses.”
No, it isn't going to get messy. MWC cancelled, and for good cause.
"A passenger fell ill with suspected coronavirus on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Heathrow this morning.
The unnamed passenger was reportedly isolated at the back of the plane, but staff dealing with the incident were not said to be wearing face masks or protective clothing.
Other passengers were later released from the plane, but Andy West, from Henley-on-Thames, told Sky News that they were not given any advice about what to do next.
Public Health England have so far declined to comment on the individual case."
Kind of casual lack of precautions I'd say, but the UK's economy is in tatters, so what else is there to do? /s
You quote a newspaper article which claims most scientists and experts consulted, said there was no public health reason to cancel the show, and then run with the lone voice they ran across that points to the risk but doesn't actually support either option (go ahead or cancel the show).
And that lone voice is stating the obvious. And in addition to the obvious, is also that around MWC and elsewhere, trade fairs continue, so yes, lots of visitors from China/Asia, lots of people in confined spaces etc. Run of the mill everyday situations. Even with this virus in the public eye.
The article leans heavily in fact on the idea that public health grounds don't justify the cancellation on a scientific basis.
That is where the claimants focus their attention.
Personally, I'm relieved that it is not going ahead but if I were the president of the GSMA my logic might be completely different.
Comments
But then...
"Most scientists and experts consulted by this newspaper insisted that there was no public health reason to cancel the trade show. One exception was Oriol Mitjà, a specialist in infectious diseases at Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital in Badalona, in Catalonia.
“The transmission of the infection is high and hard to control,” he said. “According to mathematical models developed by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, with just three imported infections there is a probability of over 50% for a local outbreak to occur.”
This expert noted that MWC was expecting nearly 20,000 visitors from the Asia Pacific region, including over 5,000 from China. He said that confined spaces full of people “are ideal for the transmission of respiratory viruses.”
No, it isn't going to get messy. MWC cancelled, and for good cause.
Then this;
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/14/coronavirus-news-uk-london-china-latest/
"A passenger fell ill with suspected coronavirus on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Heathrow this morning.
The unnamed passenger was reportedly isolated at the back of the plane, but staff dealing with the incident were not said to be wearing face masks or protective clothing.
Other passengers were later released from the plane, but Andy West, from Henley-on-Thames, told Sky News that they were not given any advice about what to do next.
Public Health England have so far declined to comment on the individual case."
Kind of casual lack of precautions I'd say, but the UK's economy is in tatters, so what else is there to do? /s
And that lone voice is stating the obvious. And in addition to the obvious, is also that around MWC and elsewhere, trade fairs continue, so yes, lots of visitors from China/Asia, lots of people in confined spaces etc. Run of the mill everyday situations. Even with this virus in the public eye.
The article leans heavily in fact on the idea that public health grounds don't justify the cancellation on a scientific basis.
That is where the claimants focus their attention.
Personally, I'm relieved that it is not going ahead but if I were the president of the GSMA my logic might be completely different.