Update: NAB Show 2020 has now been cancelled.
NAB 2020 is still scheduled to go ahead as of today. With so many other conferences, trade shows, and events being cancelled all over the world, is it just a matter of when rather than if NAB will be cancelled?
To date, these companies have pulled out of NAB Show 2020.
- AVID
- Adobe
- AJA
- MRMC
- Nikon
- ROSS Video
- TVU Networks
- Western Digital
- Zaxcom
- Ledgo/Nanlite
- Imagine Products
- Boris FX
- Bitcentral
- EVS
- Red Bee Media
- Streann Media
ROSS Video 
Adobe 
AVID 
Zaxcom 
Ledgo/Nanlite
With several big companies already withdrawing from NAB and travel restrictions in place, even if the event does go ahead, there is bound to be a major downturn in attendance.
The Coronavirus has also affected supply chains and manufacturing and there are bound to be a lot of new products that now won’t make it to NAB.
A lot can change in the space of just a few days, so it wouldn’t surprise me if NAB does eventually get cancelled.
You can keep up with NAB Coronavirus updates on NAB’s website. It’s updated every few days. This is a very fluid situation and everything could change day by day.
Here is what NAB currently has published on its website in relation to the Coronavirus:
Updated: March 11, 2020
NAB Show Status
The health and safety of our show community remain our top priority. As of now, we are moving forward with NAB Show, while continuing to evaluate the national and international situation carefully.
In light of confirmed cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in Nevada, we have reached out to local public health officials, the convention center, and other partners on the ground to assess the situation and determine their increased protocols for the health and safety of Show guests. As we receive additional details, we will update this website and communicate with all our guests and partners.
Changes to The Show
As of now, we are moving forward responsibly with NAB Show. We continue to take our direction from global, federal, and local health officials, like the WHO and CDC, which do not have travel notices or restrictions on public gatherings for the continental US.
We understand there are exhibitors and participants that may decide not to attend this year’s show and respect everyone’s desire to do what they believe is best. Over the last several weeks, we’ve heard from many exhibitors and attendees who are excited about driving our industry and their businesses forward, and we are striving to put on a show that will provide them this platform, while being mindful of the ongoing concerns regarding coronavirus. In fact, about 96% of our exhibitors are still planning to attend and of the 4% that are no longer attending, more than 80% are from China and unable to attend due to travel restrictions.
We share in the disappointment of show community members who are affected by travel restrictions due to coronavirus (COVID-19) and cannot join us in person this year. We are in contact with the exhibitors and attendees who are impacted by travel restrictions and working with them on options so they can, where possible, experience some of the benefits of the show and add value to in-person attendees remotely.
Our Work with Partners in Las Vegas
We continue to work with all our on-the-ground show partners including the Las Vegas Convention Center, the airport authority, area hotels and resorts, and show vendors to ensure that the safety of all show participants is the highest priority at the event.
The Las Vegas Convention Center has taken several steps to ensure increased safety for visitors at NAB Show and upcoming events, including:
Increasing cleaning protocols to include more frequent wiping and disinfecting of touch points in its facility during occupied show hours, such as door handles, elevator buttons, handrails, restroom stall doors and sinks.
Adding hand sanitizer stations in strategically placed areas throughout the facility. Increasing the outside air intake/air change rates during occupied show hours. Reinforcing its standard employee health practices, including sending employees home and or encouraging employees to stay home if they are sick or demonstrated health symptoms that could impact colleagues or guests. Reinforcing its standard food safety awareness programs including frequent hand washing and making alcohol-based hand gel-rub available at every food station and every table at food outlets.
Participating in ongoing webinars and conference calls with the International Association of Venue Managers to stay abreast of new practices, protocols and guidance.
State and local authorities inSouthern Nevada are also monitoring the situation closely, and are well prepared to support any public health needs in the area:
The Southern Nevada Health District conducts regular emergency exercises with both its public and private response partners, and there are plans in place for responding to an outbreak of disease and guidance for pandemic response.
The Health District successfully implemented these plans during the H1N1 pandemic response in 2009.
The Health District is continuing to work with its state and federal partners on a multi-layered response with the goal of detecting and minimizing introductions of this virus in the U.S. to reduce the spread and impact to our community.
The Health District continues to monitor travelers who underwent medical screenings and were allowed to travel to their final destinations. These individuals were not experiencing any symptoms and were asked to stay home and monitor their health within a 14-day period.
The CDC is preparing community guidance documents representing proactive public health activities that businesses, first responders, health care providers and others can utilize to better prepare to mitigate the impact of the virus if transmission begins to occur in the U.S. The document will soon be available on the CDC website.
We are working closely with our hotel partners to protect the health and safety of NAB Show attendees throughout their stay in Las Vegas. Our hotel partners have taken great care to monitor the latest preventative health recommendations on the COVID-19 coronavirus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and state and local health departments, and are incorporating that guidance into their preparations. These include:
- Enlisting additional restroom attendants to wipe down counters and stalls with disinfectant and having additional staff on hand to disinfect high touchpoints more regularly including escalator rails, elevator buttons and handrails.
- Adhering to the recommendations set forth in the U.S. EPA Emerging Pathogen Policy regarding cleaning and disinfectants.
- Making additional hand sanitizing stations readily available throughout hotel locations.
- Engaging in proactive procurement of necessary cleaning, disinfectant, and health-related supplies and materials.
- Requiring all hotel staff to observe the recommended CDC guidelines for limiting transmission of cold and flu-related illnesses, including:
- Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 30 seconds.
- Refraining from shaking hands.
- Avoiding touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and properly discard tissues after use.
- Cleaning and disinfecting phones, keyboards, and computer mice regularly.
- Avoiding close contact with people who are visibly sick.
- Staying home from work if the staff member has a fever or is exhibiting cold or flu symptoms and contacting their doctor.
The city of Las Vegas is continuing to host successful trade events and other public gatherings daily, maintaining rigorous cleanliness and safety standards throughout public spaces, resorts, and meeting facilities. We are also in communication with the Southern Nevada Health District, which understands that the health and safety of our guests is our top priority.
Personal Precautions You Can Take To Protect Yourself
We are implementing a “no handshake” policy at this year’s NAB Show to help reduce the unnecessary spread of germs. In addition, remember to observe common-sense precautions from the CDC to help keep yourself and others healthy and prevent the spread of flu, common colds, and other respiratory infections:
- Wash hands often with soap and water.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Notify medical staff right away if you feel sick, especially if you experience symptoms like:
- Persistent cough or sneezing
- Fever
- Difficulty breathing
REMINDER: The CDC is NOT recommending facemasks for the general public. Masks are only recommended for caregivers of patients with communicable illness and patients with a fever or cough.
Dedicated Support to Address Coronavirus-Related Concerns
Our event management team has dedicated resources to ensure rapid responses to inquiries and concerns related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Attendees and exhibitors are encouraged to email our Response Team at [email protected].
Are you planning on attending NAB? Do you think the event will still go ahead? Let us know in the comments section below.
