SXSW 2020: Despite coronavirus outbreak scare, organizers remain firm in decision to not cancel festival
Music and film festivals all over the world are unfortunately being canceled due to health and safety concerns surrounding the spreading coronavirus or COVID-19. However, one festival has remained firm even against growing opposition.
The South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival, set to run March 13-21 in Austin, Texas, is dealing with concerned citizens who fear the turnout at the festival will bring more than just eager music and film lovers to the city.
A petition started by a person named Shayla Lee has garnered close to 30,000 signatures demanding that the festival be canceled due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak.
The petition includes a statement from Lee expressing concerns over the "hundreds of thousands of people who will be traveling" to attend the festival.
"I believe that having an event like this is irresponsible amid an outbreak," says Lee in the petition, which is addressed to SXSW, Austin Public Health, Greg Abbott (Governor of Texas), and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Last year's SXSW saw close to 20,000 people from outside the US in attendance, and just as many — if not more — are expected to attend this year. And to add to the growing fears is the fact that the top 10 countries attendees will be traveling from have all reported cases of coronavirus.
Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, who was set to speak at SXSW this year, has already pulled out of the event due to concerns over the disease. However, despite escalating fears, SXSW officials have stated the show will go on as planned.
Public health officials have stated that canceling the festival might be premature since the virus is still contained within certain communities in the US.
Infectious disease expert at the University of Texas Branch at Galveston, Philip Keiser, says "We understand that people are nervous. The risk in Texas is really, really low. We're still in that early, isolated case phase. The closure of schools or mass events — it's difficult to know what the right time is."
Given how much organizers and festival attendees stand to lose from the festival being canceled, it's understandable they would not want to make a hasty decision. SXSW officials posted a statement to their website stating they are "working closely on a daily basis with local, state, and federal agencies to plan for a safe event."
The website includes a section dedicated to information on how SXSW will ensure the safety of all its attendees and staff against the coronavirus threat, including preparedness plans and safety tips.
They have also provided the assurance that the festival will have hand sanitizers at its venues, microphones will be wiped down, and Austin Public Health Disease Prevention tips will be handed out.
Organizers also added, "At this point, we are not expecting any participants from China due to travel restrictions."
Austin Public Health also responded, stating "We're consulting with multiple organizations, state agencies and federal agencies along with health departments across the nation — that includes cities who also host large events — and consulting with what their process is right now, specifically with COVID-19."
SXSW officials have stated that their decision to not cancel the event was made after consulting with Austin Public Health officials.
"We have to consult with many people in order to come up with these guidelines. We have emergency plans in place for large events and we are prepared, but as far as calculating the factors of what would go into a closure, we have many people to consult on that," they said.