Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update from Technical.ly CEO Christopher Wink Hello friends, As a news organization, we are as dedicated to accurate reporting as we are to taking seriously the health and well-being of our community. Like all of you, we at Technical.ly are watching closely the developments with COVID-19. We are committed to ensuring you have both a safe and enjoyable experience at the 10th annual Philly Tech Week presented by Comcast, which Technical.ly organizes. Presently, the weeklong celebration is still planned to take place from May 1 to 9 across multiple venues in Philadelphia. We are taking the COVID-19 situation seriously in preparation for any necessary precautions we may need to take. We are following federal and local authorities such as the CDC and the City of Philadelphia to ensure accurate information sourcing and compliance. We have set Friday, April 3 as the final date on which we will determine if PTW would need to be delayed. Once that has been determined, we will send an email to our community, including sponsors, speakers and event organizers, and share on our website and social media channels. Please note that at this time, the CDC is reporting that “this virus is not currently widespread in the United States,” and the immediate health risk is considered low for the general American public. It’s also important to remember that Philly Tech Week consists of more than 100 events, many of which are relatively small and local, across dozens of locations. For those larger conferences we are investigating live streaming and other contingencies. You can find a wide variety of resources from the CDC here. While the risk remains low, we feel it is our duty to share some basic protective measures people can take against illnesses. As should always be the case: Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, and if you feel sick, stay at home. If you want to get extra slick, work on your elbow bump. In all earnestness though, we are taking COVID-19 seriously, closely monitoring its developments, and will always prioritize the health and safety of our community. If you have any questions, please contact us. -Christopher Wink Technical.ly CEO Philly Tech Week cofounder |