The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has received many inquiries regarding their 2020 Annual Conference in Phoenix and their intention to continue with the conference in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. After carefully assessing the rapidly evolving situation as well as their duties to their members, other meeting attendees, and the local communities that infection preventionists serve, APIC has made the difficult, but necessary decision to cancel the 2020 Annual Conference scheduled in June.
APIC has given the situation deep consideration and they want to do the right thing for their members and the infection prevention community. They respect their infection preventionists’ need to be available to and healthy for their own patients, communities, and countries and acknowledge that this is their priority.
Various factors were taken into consideration when making this decision, including:
· During this COVID-19 outbreak, infection preventionists, clinical leaders and team members are needed in their facilities to provide care for their vulnerable residents, clients, and patients.
· At the time of this writing, most U.S. states have stay-at-home orders, placed bans on large gatherings, and implemented travel restrictions making it impossible for many of their attendees to be able to come to Phoenix.
