Medical conferences in the post-COVID world: a challenge, and an opportunity

Excerpt

The current COVID-19 pandemic has struck humanity like a biblical or historical plague, with a rapidity rarely seen even during those previous events. From apparent beginnings in the Far East at the end of 2019, it has spread throughout the globe, causing over 3 million confirmed cases (with a much-higher probable prevalence) and over 200,000 deaths at the time of writing (April 27, 2020). Protective measures (personal and societal) to reduce the impact of the pandemic have impacted greatly on daily life in most parts of the world and have already produced enormous economic consequences for individuals, businesses and countries, with more to come. Uncertainty regarding the duration and geographical spread of the pandemic, the time needed to control it and the future availability of a cure or vaccine makes precise future planning impossible in virtually all aspects of life. We truly are living in “interesting times”. …