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The 2020 Geneva Motor Show earlier scheduled to open, Tuesday, March 3, to the press has been cancelled.
The Swiss Government announced the official cancellation Friday due to Coronavirus fears as it banned public gatherings of more than 1000 people.
Reactions however have continued to trail the cancellation.
“The public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak has hit home this week with whole towns quarantined in northern Italy and the first cases confirmed in Switzerland, ” Automotive Editor, GlobalData, David Leggett, said, maintaining that the organisers were too late in acting, despite the Coronavirus fears.
According to Leggett, “… the organisers of the Geneva Motor Show stuck doggedly to the line that it (Geneva Motor Show) could continue to take place and issued health guidelines for exhibitors and attendees on Wednesday (26th). This seemed unrealistic to many and exhibitors began to cancel or massively scale down their attendance plans.
“The decision to cancel the show at this late stage – press day
scheduled for next Tuesday, March 3 – was finally forced by a Swiss
federal government edict banning gatherings of more than 1,000 people.
“Many prospective exhibitors and attendees may well be disappointed
that the event was not called off by the organisers earlier.”
Announcing the ban, Friday, the Swiss Government justified its action in a statement, saying:
“An extraordinary meeting of the Federal Council was held today, 28 February. In view of the current situation and the spread of the coronavirus, the Federal Council has categorised the situation in Switzerland as ‘special’ in terms of the Epidemics Act. Large-scale events involving more than 1000 people are to be banned. The ban comes into immediate effect and will apply at least until 15 March.
“The Federal Council’s top priority is to protect the population. It is responding to the latest developments in the coronavirus epidemic and has categorised the situation in Switzerland as ‘special’ in terms of the Epidemics Act. This enables the Federal Council, in consultation with the cantons, to order measures that are normally the responsibility of the cantons.
“The Federal Council is banning public and private events in Switzerland at which more than 1000 people would gather. This ban on events comes into immediate effect and will apply at least until 15 March. The cantons are responsible for enforcing the ban.
“In the case of public or private events at which fewer than 1000 people would gather, event organisers must carry out a risk assessment in conjunction with the competent cantonal authorities to decide whether or not the event can be held.
“The Federal Council is aware that this measure will have a significant impact on public life in Switzerland. However, the move is expected to provide effective protection to people in Switzerland and to public health. It should prevent or delay the spread of the disease in Switzerland, thus reducing its momentum.”
