photo: Marcus Neto
Canadian Music Week 2020 has been rescheduled in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The 2020 Canadian Music Week Conference and Expo had previously been slated to take place between May 19th and 23rd, and organizers reiterated the long-held timetable earlier this month. However, ongoing health concerns, as well as a government-issued ban on Ontario gatherings comprised of more than 250 individuals, prompted a postponement of the Toronto event.
While CMW 2020’s venue — the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel — has remained unchanged, the festivities are now set to initiate on Monday, September 8th. Following this “buffer” day, which is designed to allow guests to arrive and settle in, the three-day Music Conference will commence. During this and other functions, attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy the CMW Music Festival, which has been booked for September 8th through the 13th.
Canadian Music Week President Neill Dixon has emphasized that assuring the health and safety of guests, staff members, and others is his main priority, especially given the circumstances of the coronavirus crisis.
Yesterday, it came to light that Universal Music Group (UMG) CEO Lucian Grainge tested positive for COVID-19. He is reportedly being treated at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to address the coronavirus pandemic in a press conference this afternoon. The 48-year-old head of government has been in self-quarantine with his wife since last week, when she tested positive for COVID-19. Prime Minister Trudeau has not displayed any symptoms of the infection and is isolating himself out of caution.
Late last night, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued new guidelines for public and private gatherings, requesting that Americans forego hosting events with 50 or more guests for the next eight weeks. The announcement followed multiple states’ closing all bars and restaurants; Ohio and Illinois kicked off the trend, and New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, and Michigan had followed suit at the time of this piece’s writing.
While COVID-19 case totals remained steady in the United States and Canada over the weekend, European nations — especially France and Spain — experienced a significant spike. Last week, World Health Organization (WHO) officials deemed Europe the new epicenter of the pandemic.
And with Spain’s total coronavirus diagnoses having surpassed those of South Korea, which was hit hard by the infection shortly after it spread from China, government officials are reportedly considering instituting a country-wide lockdown.