Despite the fact that Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker has announced a state of emergency today due to an outbreak of the coronavirus, a statement published today by AUVSI says that the Xponential show, one of the biggest in the drone industry, will take place as planned.

With any luck at all, the relatively small outbreak of coronavirus in MA – the vast majority of which stemmed from one particular business meeting – will have long passed by May 4-7, when Xponential takes place.  In any case, the city, airport and convention center are taking all reasonable precautions against the spread of the virus, and Xponential says that the current plan is to “proceed as scheduled.”

The Xponential statement points out the safety measures taken by the convention center:

Measures being taken by our host convention center in Boston include:

• Coordination with city, state, and federal first responders on current risk information and implementation of disease response protocols.
• Assigning medically trained public safety staff and medical first responders in the convention center, qualified to screen guests and identify high-risk illnesses.
• Deployment of additional hand washing signage and sanitation stations throughout the facility.
• Frequent cleaning of restrooms and public spaces by staff qualified on techniques to prevent transmission of sickness.

In addition to these precautions, the City of Boston has stepped up efforts to prevent the spread of disease citywide, including preparedness meetings with Boston emergency medical services, emergency management agencies, and the Police and Fire Departments. Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Medical Center and Boston Medical Center are among the leading medical facilities in Boston equipped with advanced capability to manage infectious diseases. The Massachusetts Port Authority, in conjunction with the U.S. Centers for Diseases Control, has begun to screen international travelers through the Boston port of entry at Logan Airport for any signs of illness related to Coronavirus.

That the show will take place is a piece of hopeful news for the international community of drone businesses that have invested in the show for an opportunity to meet customers and suppliers, and to learn about major new developments in the industry.  Boston is home for DRONELIFE – we look forward to seeing you in our beautiful city in May.

Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam or (for paid consulting engagements only) request a meeting through AdvisoryCloud:

TWITTER:@spaldingbarker

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