Digital Signage Expo (DSE) confirmed that the show will go ahead as planned on 31 March – 3 April 2020 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, amid low infection numbers of Covid-19 (‘Coronavirus’) in the US.
Chris Gibbs, president of Exponation LLC (The producer of DSE) said: “We take the concern about the coronavirus in the U.S. seriously, as we do the health and safety of all of our participants and so does the Las Vegas Convention Center, where the event is being held. Management there is following established protocols to keep all participants of events at the LVCC as protected as possible.”
The United States ranks second lowest in the “top 10” Covid-19 infection cases, with 554 confirmed cases and 22 reported deaths to date from the novel virus that has swept across Asia and Europe.
The Las Vegas Convention Centre is following all Center for Disease Control (CDC) and health district, Southern Nevada protocols in addition to providing increased cleaning protocols to allow for more frequent wiping and disinfecting of touch points in the facility during show hours: cleaning door handles, elevator buttons, handrails, restroom doors and sinks.
Additional hand sanitiser stations will be placed in areas throughout the facility, as well as increased outside air intake/air change rates during show hours and a reinforcement of standard employee health practices such as sending employees home and/or encouraging employees to stay home if they are sick or demonstrating symptoms that could impact guests or colleagues.
Food safety awareness programs will also be reinforced, with continued participation in ongoing webinars and conference calls with the International Association of Venue Managers to keep up with new practices, protocols and guidance.
Gibbs added: “We also have been assured by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority that area hotels and restaurants are maintaining high-level cleanliness and standards, as the safety of their visitors is of the highest priority.”
The move to go ahead with the show comes in the face of several postponements of industry events throughout Europe and Asia, with InfoComm China being postponed until further notice and Germany’s Prolight + Sound show being postponed until May, with major participants cancelling their attendance altogether.
Digital Signage Expo is set to run from 31 March – 3 April 2020 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, Nevada, USA.