The American College of Cardiology (ACC) took the extraordinary preventive step of cancelling the ACC.20 Annual Scientific Sessions and World Congress set for March 28 – 30 in Chicago due to increasing concerns about the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus).
According to a press release, the ACC has made the call after monitoring daily developments and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO), as wells as reports from state and local governments. As travel restrictions and advisories have increased, the impact was being felt by health care providers in the U.S. and around the world.
Due to @CDC, @WHO #COVID19 reports, and in the best interest of our attendees and the #CVD patients whom they serve around the globe, #ACC20/#WCCardio is canceled. Virtual meeting options in the works. More here: https://t.co/gFZCPxAlKD pic.twitter.com/Fb1Un2P8Us
— ACC Advocacy (@Cardiology) March 9, 2020
“The health, safety, and well-being of our members, staff, exhibitors, faculty, and other stakeholders is of paramount importance, ACC President Richard J. Kovacs, MD, FACC, said in a press release. “With an ever-increasing number of ACC members on the front lines of preparing and reacting to the COVID-19 outbreak, it is in the best interest of everyone to cancel the meeting and ensure our members are able to do what they do best: help and heal.”
More information about virtual presentations and other releases of some of the research that would have been presented at the conference and published simultaneously in the journals will be released by ACC in coming days.
The physical @ACCinTouch #ACC20 has been cancelled, but a virtual meeting is in the works. Definitely the right decision.
Looking forward to how the ACC carries out the meeting virtually – will guide future meetings. https://t.co/t0zFwzYKfq
— Rohan Khera (@rohan_khera) March 9, 2020
This is obviously very disappointing for all of us who were looking forward to #ACC20, but clearly the right & responsible thing to do, to adhere to WHO recommendations. For the healthy & safety of health care professionals, the patients we care for, and our communities. https://t.co/A0Qg3rd1ei
— Erin D. Michos, M.D. (@ErinMichos) March 9, 2020
#ACC20 joins the long list of canceled meetings due to COVID-19. Bummer. A tough decision, but the right one. Until #ACC21. #COVID19 @boback @KevinShahMD @JShreibati @JeffHsuMD @allheart_md pic.twitter.com/1FNiKMtRwR
— David Cho, MD, MBA (@DavidChoMD) March 9, 2020
If #ACC20 were held virtually, would you still take time off from work to attend? @ACCinTouch @Cardiology
— Ami Bhatt, MD (@AmiBhattMD) March 9, 2020
