Greetings,
Most of you will be aware by now that COVID-19 has been declared to be a pandemic by the World Health Organization. As of that announcement, many more people have reached out to us to inform us that their employers have denied them travel unless it is deemed absolutely essential. In light of our shrinking attendance and the possibility that both our Chair (Sheldon Zimmerman) and Vice-Chair (C.D Clark) will also be unable to attend the meeting due to travel restrictions, we have made the decision to postpone the annual meeting and ancillary meetings of ASC Z136 until a later date this year (TBD). The ADCOM will meet virtually this month to discuss meeting preparations.
The decision to postpone these meetings was given much consideration over the past month as events unfolded and new information became available. We tried to make the decision as soon as reasonably possible so that you would be able to change your travel plans. Many airlines and hotels are being accommodating in adjusting their cancellation policies in consideration of the challenges brought about by concerns over COVID-19. Thank you everyone for your patience and understanding; we wish everyone good health in the days to come and we will be in touch with new meeting details in the coming weeks.
Best wishes,
Liliana Caldero, Secretariat Representative and Sheldon Zimmerman, ASC Z136 Chairman