Yet another trade show bites the dust as CE Week joins a long list of shows canceled due to the nationwide Coronavirus epidemic. This cancellation is no surprise, as CE Week was only a little more than 60 days away and planned for the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan – a facility that is in the process of being converted to a large hospital for victims of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic that is hitting New York City and New York State very hard.
See more on the canceled CE Week…
In a simple letter to “Dear friends and partners,” IFA Executive Director Jens Heithecker announced the decision by IFA and CT Labs to cancel their summer show in New York City – CE Week. No doubt, this decision was facilitated by the fact that their preferred expo center over the last few years for this event has been the Javits Center in Manhattan. That facility is now in the process of being turned into a large temporary hospital facility for treatment of the rapidly expanding number of victims of COVID-19.
New York City is reporting a total of 17,856 cases of COVID-19, with 199 deaths at this time. (New York State is reporting 30,811 “positive cases.”) The rapid daily growth in the number of victims is causing the City and State to take drastic actions to triage so many victims – including placing hospital beds in convention centers like the Javits Center.
An Eclectic Mix of Trade & Consumer Brands
CE Week was scheduled to take place June 10 & 11 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. Strata-gee has covered the event for years, including last year which featured its typically eclectic mix of trade and consumer brands.
“The New York State Office of General Services, in conjunction with the Governor’s Office, the New York State Department of Health and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, requested the use of the available space at the Javits Center in order to help combat the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. As this is challenging for all of us it is self-evident to back the decision of the Javits Center to support the New Yorkers in their time of need.”
Jens Heithecker, IFA Executive Director, explaining the decision to cancel CE Week
See Here for More Information…
Heithecker went on to say that “…your health and safety is paramount for us. Please stay safe – and make sure to take precautionary measures to protect you and your families.”
For more information on CE Week, see: ceweekny.com.
Learn all about IFA by visiting: ifa-berlin.com.
Ted,
Thank you for keeping us informed and up to date on changes due to this crisis,I do hope you and your family stay safe and well, we will get through this together.
Sincerely
Shawn
True that – We are ALL in this together!