(PRESS RELEASE) ALEXANDRIA, VA – Over the past few weeks, The Vision Council and its partners at Vision Expo have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 virus and the threat it poses to members of the global vision care and services community. At this time, the upcoming Vision Expo will take place as scheduled at the Javits Center in New York City. The Show will open on Thursday, March 26, at The River, one of three new neighborhoods set to debut at Vision Expo East 2020. Education at Vision Expo will take place March 26–29, 2020. The Vision Expo main Exhibit Hall will be open from March 27–29, 2020.
“We wish to express our concern for everyone impacted by the COVID-19 virus including those in China who play such a critical role in the delivery of eyewear and eyecare in the United States,” said Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council. “In addition, our thoughts are with our friends and peers at the MIDO eyewear show as they made their announcement over the past weekend. It is our hope that this health crisis subsides as quickly and safely as possible.”
The Vision Council is working with the Javits Center to implement enhanced on-site safety measures, including increased cleaning and sanitization across the Show. In accordance with the recommendations set forth in the U.S. EPA’s Emerging Pathogen Policy regarding cleaning disinfectants effective against the COVID-19 virus, sanitizing and disinfection materials will be made readily available for public use.
Furthermore, Vision Expo is following local, state and federal public health guidelines, including those issued by the CDC, and The Vision Council encourages all show attendees to use their best judgment in helping prevent the potential spread of all germs.
“The well-being of everyone at Vision Expo, from our attendees and exhibitors to our staff on-site, is of the utmost importance to The Vision Council and our partners,” said Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council. “We will continue to work diligently to ensure Vision Expo and our other events live up to our high standards and we will continue to provide updates as we get closer to Vision Expo East.”
For more information and updates on the measures in place for Vision Expo, refer to the statement on the Show website.