In a move to halt the spread of Coronavirus, Fespa will seek confirmation that no Chinese exhibitors, sub-contractors and pre-registered visitors set to attend next month’s Global Print Expo in Madrid have visited or resided in China at any time after March 5, 2020.
Global Print Expo 2020 is co-locating with the European Sign Expo 2020 and Sportswear Pro 2020 and is scheduled to take place from 24 to 27 March, 2020.
“Fespa recognises the importance of the Madrid 2020 exhibitions to the exhibitor community within China and has made every effort to minimise the disruption and impact to these companies,” Fespa said in a statement.
“Safety is always first priority and Fespa wishes to take proactive steps to minimise the risks to all participants at the March 2020 events in Madrid. As such, the Fespa board and senior management team is actively monitoring all developments relating to COVID-19, guided by latest information from the World Health Organisation.
“With effect from 20.2.2020, Fespa is formally contacting all exhibiting companies from China at the three Madrid 2020 exhibitions, requiring that they provide documented evidence that all representatives of their company attending the exhibitions, including sub-contractors, have not resided in or visited China at any time after 5th March 2020.
“This represents a two-week period preceding the beginning of the build-up of the exhibitions. Fespa believes that this proactive policy is in the best interests of the health and wellbeing of exhibitors, attendees, partners and staff (as well as the general public in the host city of Madrid).”
Exhibiting companies from China that do not fulfil this requirement will not be able to participate at the Madrid 2020 exhibitions.
Fespa CEO Neil Felton said: “By taking this proactive step with regard to our exhibiting companies to China, our aim is to safeguard the health and wellbeing of every participant at our Fespa 2020 events to the best of our abilities, while also providing strong reassurance to our exhibitor and visitor communities. We look forward to a vibrant and successful event in Madrid in March.”
Fespa is also in contact with other exhibitors and pre-registered visitors to advise them of these measures and to request that they should not attend if they have visited China after 5 March 2020.
Fespa is also working closely with IFEMA and with the relevant authorities in Madrid to provide exhibitors and visitors to the events with the relevant support and guidance.
Two medical service units will be made available for the events and hygiene measures in different parts of the premises have been implemented and expanded by providing assistants with sanitary soap dispensers, as recommended by WHO, as well as strengthening the cleaning services of the facilities.
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