In due consideration of the latest information on the Coronavirus outbreak, ESMO and IASLC have made the unavoidable decision to cancel the ELCC 2020 Congress, due to take place 15-18 April in Geneva, Switzerland.
This decision was based on critical elements such as the complete ban by the Swiss Federal Authorities on events of any size, on top of travel limitations from and to most countries, and, importantly, healthcare professionals forced to work extraordinary shifts to care for patients. This decision also underlines our own commitment and contribution to contain and mitigate the spread of the infection, as per the WHO recommendations.
We are conscious of all the work done by many preparing for this congress, we share everyone’s disappointment and apologise for the inconvenience this will cause.
Delegates will be contacted by the ESMO office over the next few days regarding their registrations.
ESMO and IASLC, together with other ELCC partner organisations ESTRO, ESTS and ETOP, represent a vast community of medical professionals, many of whom certainly in the trenches to assist and support cancer patients in connection with the Covid-19 infection. Our thoughts and sympathy go out to all of them, their families and patients who have been impacted by the disease.
The safety and security of all participants to and staff at ESMO events is of utmost importance to us.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates regarding future ESMO events and activities.
For any questions, please contact the ESMO offices at esmo@esmo.org
Date: 14 Mar 2020
Where and when official information made available supports continuation, ESMO will confirm events as planned. However, the level of uncertainty is such that it is impossible for the time being to provide definitive information.
Messages from other organisations confirm the difficulties of these uncertain times. ESMO, like others, acknowledges the high value for doctors and healthcare professionals to come together, to share the latest research, learn from experts, and network, but right now we must all be responsible and make efforts to contain and mitigate the spread of the infection, as per the WHO recommendations.
ESMO represents a strong community of more than 25,000 oncology professionals, many of these certainly in the trenches to assist and support cancer patients, a particularly frail population with respect to the Covid-19 infection. Our thoughts and sympathy go out to them, their families and all patients who have been impacted by the disease.
Further information will be published as soon as possible.
Date: 4 Mar 2020
At present the ELCC Congress is confirmed as planned, 15-18 April 2020, Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland.
We are constantly checking the measures and directives released by the Swiss authorities (Swiss Federal Council) related to suspending and/or banning public and private events involving more than 1,000 participants as one of the efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 infection. An update is foreseen on Friday, 6 March. Future decisions about the ELCC Congress will abide by those regulations.
To facilitate access to educational material for those who should be prevented from travelling, cannot leave their countries or prefer not to take particular risks, live and/or recorded webcasts will be provided via esmo.org.
For the safety of attendees, according to information and guidance provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), ESMO is actively taking all the recommended measures to offer a safe environment at meetings, including temperature control stations at the entrance of the congress venue, hand sanitizers available for attendees, medical staff onsite to assist participants.
We also recommend anyone planning to attend to follow the WHO recommendations for protecting themselves and others from the infection. We feel it is our responsibility to remind all when making travel decisions that it would be prudent to consider the importance of your own health and the well-being of others.
This is especially valid if you are a medical professional seeing patients regularly, feeling unwell with fever or respiratory symptoms, coming from a high-risk area or been in or near any of the hot zones in the previous days.
We feel very close to those colleagues who have been affected, directly or indirectly, by the impact of new Coronavirus, and are supportive of all possible measures for them to continue to benefit from valuable educational opportunities.
Further updates will be published on this page.
For any questions, please contact esmo@esmo.org.