DENVER, CO — The American Physical Society has announced the cancellation of its annual conference over concerns about the spread of COVID-19 — the new strain of coronavirus linked to China. Around 10,000 people from around the world were expected to attend the conference, which was scheduled in Denver Monday through Friday.
The American Physical Society said its leaders have been monitoring the spread of the disease “constantly.”
“The decision to cancel was based on the latest scientific data being reported, and the fact that a large number of attendees at this meeting are coming from outside the U.S., including countries where the CDC upgraded its warning to level 3 as recently as Saturday,” read a post on the organization’s website.
“We recognize that the timing of this decision has significantly inconvenienced many of you. However, this decision was made out of deep concern for the health and well-being of our registrants, staff, vendors, and the Denver community.”
The organization said it will refund all registration fees, and that its organizers are looking into “what is possible regarding hotel cancellation fees.”
A Washington man’s death marks the first in the United States, as the total number of cases in the country rose to 22.
The CDC said an additional 47 infections were among people who returned to the U.S. via State Department-chartered flights. The latter number includes 44 people who contracted the virus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
The virus — which originated in Wuhan, China — has infected at least 83,600 people internationally, and 2,800 people have died, according to the World Health Organization. It is spreading so quickly overseas that infectious disease experts and scientists warn there may be no way to contain it.
Thousands of others across the country are being monitored for the new coronavirus, including 8,400 people in the state of California, and more than 230 people in Massachusetts who may have been exposed to the virus are being monitored and self-quarantined in their homes.