The Coronavirus – this year’s largest public health crisis – has forced organisers of two of the biggest design events in the world to suspend action as a precautionary measure. While the Salone del Mobile, Milan’s biggest design fair, has been rescheduled from April 21-26 to June 21-26, the Light+Building fair originally slated for 8-13 March in Frankfurt has been moved to September this year.

“Due to the increased spread of the coronavirus in Europe, Messe Frankfurt decided to postpone Light + Building after intensive consultations. The world's leading trade fair for lighting and building technology will take place in Frankfurt am Main between mid and end of September 2020,” reads a statement released by the organisers of Light + Building.

The mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, along with the Salone del Mobile president Claudio Luti and Emanuele Orsini, president of Federlegno Arredo Eventi, issued a similar notice. “We won't stop. We can't stop. Salone del Mobile Milano will be held from 16th to 21st June at Rho Fiera Milano,” they declared, adding in their speech, “We need to work objectively to stop this virus spreading, but we must also take care not to spread the virus of distrust.” The forum witnesses 370,000 attendees on average every year, from 188 different nations.

Northern Italy including areas near Milan have been worst hit by the COVID-19 strain in Europe, with over 300 cases that have been reported positive.

As the crisis spreads across the entire world affecting business, travel and other activities, other important events in the fields of architecture, design and art have also been cancelled or rescheduled. Some of these include the Swatch ‘Time to Move’ Summit, MIDO Eyewear Show, Chanel’s Beijing show, Festival of Design Architecture Conference, the Mobile World Congress and Design Shanghai, among others.

As 80,000 Coronavirus cases have been reported globally, the World Health Organisation is working closely with global experts, governments and partners to expand scientific knowledge and to provide advice to countries and individuals on tackling the virus.