Coronavirus spread affects Eurovision: Jon Ola Sand will miss out the Head of Delegations meeting due to EBU travel restrictions
As the spread of the Coronavirus is causing global concern on how things will develop, a major international event like Eurovision certainly couldn’t stay out of the picture of events affected by the Coronavirus consequences.
The Coronavirus is spreading around Europe causing a domino of consequences which are starting to affect among others the Eurovision Song Contest itself. After the press reported Swedish withdrawal from the HoD meeting , a comfirmed incident of the virus within EBU’s staff in Geneva brought travel restrictions to all the EBU staff until March 13. The restrictions include the Head of EBU for the Eurovision Song Contest , Jon Ola Sand, who due to this restriction will have to miss out the Head of Delegations Meeting in Rotterdam on March 9.
EBU’s announcement mentioned:
“As some of you may already be aware, the EBU in Geneva has had one person test positive for coronavirus amongst its staff.”
As a result of that, the EBU’s general director “in the interests of health and safety of staff and Members, has imposed travel restrictions on all staff until at least Friday 13 March.”
Israel follows Sweden’s withdrawal
As if Swedish Delegation’s withdrawal wasn’t enough , Israel decided to take the same path after KAN’s decision not to attend the meeting next Monday in Rotterdam. This development comes after the Israeli Health Ministry’s guidline to avoid unnecessary travel. The Ministry of Health has advised Israelis to avoid travelling abroad and only in “urgent” cases.
All delegations absent and Jon Ola Sand himself will attend the meeting remotely . Meanwhile, the organisers of the contest are in ongoing contact with the governmental institutions monitoring on the Coronavirus spread in order to take in mind every parameter day by day.
Source: Wiwibloggs
Cover photo credit: Eurovision.tv
