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In the context of continued uncertainty caused by the Omicron variant, the World Economic Forum has abandoned its plan to hold a face-to-face annual meeting in Davos next month, causing this high-level exchange event to be repeatedly forced to change its plan for two full years.
This annual meeting of executives, world leaders and activists is known for its elite setting of the agenda. It was originally scheduled to be held in Davos, a Swiss ski resort from January 17 to 21 next year. A statement from the World Economic Forum stated that it will instead host a series of online conferences and plans to host another face-to-face event at some point in the early summer of 2022.
The last face-to-face annual meeting of the forum was held in January 2020, when the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19, or COVID-19) just started to attract the attention of its international participants. Since then, as the epidemic has continued, the World Economic Forum has been forced to change its meeting plan at least six times, canceling plans to hold meetings at other venues from Singapore to Lake Lucerne in Switzerland at other times.
“The current epidemic situation makes it extremely difficult to hold global face-to-face meetings.” The forum said on Monday. “Although our meetings have strict sanitation procedures, the contagious nature of Omicron and its impact on travel and the movement of people means it is necessary. postpone.”
The plan for the January meeting was formulated with strict safety procedures in mind. All participants were told that they must complete the entire course of COVID-19 vaccination, and they need to undergo a nucleic acid test 72 hours before arrival, and they have to do another test to activate their badges (you can enter the main venues and hotels with a badge). Test once every 48 hours.
Given that all parties are increasingly concerned about the risks that Omicron poses to health and international travel, the number of registered participants is lower than usual. As of last week, about 2,000 people have registered for the January meeting, which is roughly two-thirds of the number of participants in 2020.
A seven-page health and safety document recommended that potential Davos attendees “avoid physical contact, including hugging and shaking hands,” and stipulated that only FFP2 (European standard, equivalent to the US N95— -Translator’s Note) Masks can only enter the safe area of the venue, and the “buffet concept” in the safe area will be changed to individually packaged meals.
If the meeting is held as planned, the badges of participants who test positive for COVID-19 will be deprived of access to the venue, and these participants will be forced to quarantine and wait for local authorities to contact them.
“The postponement of the annual meeting will not prevent business, government and civil society leaders from continuing to meet online and make progress.” said Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum. During the period, public-private cooperation has been moving forward, and this cooperation will continue to advance rapidly. We look forward to bringing global leaders face to face in the near future.”
Translator/Japanese style