Highly precautionary: Hannover Messe to be postponed

In response to the steady spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus), more and more trade fairs and major events worldwide are being postponed or even cancelled. Even the world’s largest industrial show, Hannover Messe, has to move to a later date.

The Hannover Messe 2020 was originally scheduled from April 20 to 24. But the continuing risk of lung disease infection has forced the organizers of this internationally important industrial fair to postpone the date. On Wednesday, Deutsche Messe AG announced that this year’s Hannover Messe will be postponed to the 13th to the 17th of July.

Industrial show attracts international audience to Hanover

Various companies from 70 countries will present the most innovative products and technologies on the subject of industrial transformation to the 200,000 international visitors on around 6000 exhibitors.

Within the framework of forums, special attention will be paid in to the latest technological developments in 5G mobile communications and digital ecosystems.
Its scale makes the cross-sector Hannover Messe the world’s largest and internationally most important trade fair for technological innovations. All the more reason to insist on consistent compliance with health and safety standards.

Developed hygiene and health concept is “not feasible”

The measures laid down by the Robert Koch Institute for the protection of health should, on the advice of the Health Department of the state capital of Lower Saxony, also be taken into account at major events organized by Deutsche Messe AG.

Access to trade fairs should be denied to all participants from countries at risk and those who have been in contact with people from affected countries. The entrances should also be secured by body temperature scanners. These regulations shall apply equally to all persons involved on the exhibition grounds: exhibitors, visitors, service providers, stand builders and the caterers.

However, according to Deutsche Messe AG, the above-mentioned measures to regulate access are “not feasible”. Furthermore, “the intended purpose of the event could be achieved neither for exhibitors nor for visitors, or only with considerable restrictions.” According to the credo that caution is better than indulgence, health protection events should be postponed or cancelled until a containment of the notifiable infectious disease Covid-19 can be guaranteed.

Other events fall victim to the corona crisis

Inevitably, the implementation of further events is also affected by the novel coronavirus. The Berlin Tourism Fair ITB, the Munich Trade Fair IHM, the LogiMat in Stuttgart or the Leipzig Book Fair will not take place this year.

Alternative dates could be set for other events, such as the Hanover Fair. Also the IT trade fair Twenty2X, which is planned in Hanover, will have to be made up for at a later date, as will the GrindTec in Augsburg.

Source coverimage: iStock – inga