ACP Internal Medicine Meeting still on for now

The American College of Physicians’ (ACP) Internal Medicine Meeting is still going on as planned, according to an update from the organization.

The meeting is scheduled to take place the week of April 21 in Los Angeles, but as fears of the COVID-19 coronavirus ramp up and other organizations cancel their large gatherings the ACP is working closely with the CDC and local officials to ensure the safety of attendees, the update says.

“ACP considers the health, well-being, and safety of its meeting attendees, staff, and the public our top priority,” the update says. “ACP leadership is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation, and is actively working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure authoritative communication of safety updates and recommendations as the situation evolves.”

As part of the organization’s response to the disease, the update says:

·      Leadership is ready for flexible decision making as information becomes available

·      They are working with the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Los Angeles Convention Center to make sure proper medical and sanitation processes are in place

·      Leadership will advise regarding precautions and standard respiratory hygiene procedures to reduce transmission

·      The organization will make updates to members and registrants as more information becomes available

The announcement follows the March 5 cancellation of the HIMSS20 conference in Orlando, Florida, which was expected to draw tens of thousands of people and feature a speech from President Donald J. Trump.

More than 100,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus around the globe and the leader of the World Health Organization is pushing governments across the globe to step up their response to the ever-widening health crisis, according to a report from The New York Times.