UPDATE: SVG Europe statement on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

SVG Europe has issued the following statement regarding its upcoming events and the potential impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on its events:

The safety, security and good health of participants at SVG Europe events is of the highest priority. As such, we are continuing to monitor the Coronavirus situation in close cooperation with the international health organisations and the cities and venues in which our events take place.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, following advice from the Norwegian Health Authorities, it has been decided to postpone the Nordic Summit 2020. The event, produced by NCE Media and SVG Europe, was due to take place on Thursday 12 March 2020 at Media City in Bergen.

The decision was made with delegate and speaker safety and health in mind following concerns about the potential impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak around Europe.

UPDATE: Due to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, and with the health and well-being of delegates, sponsors, speakers and staff in mind, SVG Europe has decided to postpone Football Summit 2020 and the eSports Focus until later in the year.

The events were both due to take place on Tuesday 31 March 2020 at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

Special measures

At all SVG Europe events that do take place, the organisers and hosts will maintain rigorous cleanliness and safety standards throughout and we will have tissues and hand cleaning facilities available for all participants.

For all SVG Europe conferences, summits and networking events we will make the following provisions:

• A deep-clean of the venue before our conferences take place
• Additional on-site cleaners on the day of the conference
• Additional hand sanitising facilities will be made available
• Cleaning and sanitising of all registration equipment
• Cleaning of keyboards and microphones after every speaking session

We also recommend that all attendees follow the following hygiene recommendations:

• Avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections
• People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands)
• Avoid handshaking or excessive contact, a simple verbal greeting, or elbow bump will do
• Frequent hand washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment

If you have recently visited an area of high infection you may wish to consider self-isolating rather than attending an SVG Europe event.

We will continue to provide regular updates on the Coronavirus situation.

For more information please visit: https://www.who.int/

This story has been edited to reflect the constantly changing situation. Information correct as of 12 March 2020