Cancellation of Talks due to Covid-19 Outbreak
We are sorry to announce that the HSS Council has made a decision to cancel the March and April 2020 lectures.
* April update: following review, the May lecture is also cancelled. The AGM may need to be postponed. Watch this space. *
This is to help delay the spread of Covid-19, the new coronavirus.
You will have seen that the Astronomy Section has closed the observatory to avoid cross-infection.
- The number of cases in the UK is now rising in leaps and bounds.
- The NHS still has limited resources e.g. of nurses and respirators, and is already stretched to cope with winter illnesses.
- Italian hospitals are finding it hard to cope with the rise in pneumonia cases.
- The delay phase of tackling is to slow down the spread to allow the NHS to cope.
- A good proportion of our membership have ages which put them in the higher risk category for the disease.
- A good proportion of our volunteers is also in that higher risk category.
It is true that
- Our meetings are small compared to e.g. football matches.
- Attendance at lectures is voluntary.
- Other organisations are dealing with the situation by increasing hygiene and providing hand sanitisers.
- Government advice does not yet restrict our lectures.
But
- Our lecture venue is small, with limited washing facilities, and limited distancing opportunity.
- Government advice is changing weekly or more often.
- Other countries are taking more drastic action to control their outbreaks.
- Temporarily suspending lectures has no impact on the general economy.
Therefore we feel it makes sense to take this step.
Richmond Scientific Society
Please note that Richmond Scientific Society have made a similar decision to cancel their lectures until further notice.
oOo
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Last updated 26-Apr-2020