The events team at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, have issued a statement assuring exhibitors and visitors that all events taking place at the venue – including next week’s ETO Show – are going ahead as planned.
The ETO Show sponsored by Satisfyer takes place in Hall 3 of the Ricoh Arena on Sunday 15th and Monday 16th of March and will feature many of the industry’s leading names along with a number of specialist suppliers. The opening hours are 10.30am to 5.00pm (Sunday) and 11.00am to 4.00pm (Monday) and it is free to attend. If you have not pre-registered online, you can just turn up on the day and register in the foyer. Please bring some form of ‘proof of trade’ with you, such as business cards, letterheads, or even just an invoice from a recognised supplier.
A full preview of the event, including details of all exhibitors and their plans for the show, can be found in the March issue of ETO (arriving with UK subscribers on Saturday 7th March) and you can find out more information at www.etoshow.com or to read an independent view of the event, written by Cara Sutra, click here
The statement issued by the Ricoh Arena event manager Tom Gault reads as follows:
The UK risk level for coronavirus has been increased from low to moderate. However, the risk to individuals has not changed and is low. Ricoh Arena remains open and events are taking place as planned. We will continue to follow advice from the Government, the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England.
A coronavirus is a type of virus and typical symptoms include fever and a cough that may progress to severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
Advice for UK residents and international visitors:
The advice for UK residents who think they may be affected is to take common-sense steps to avoid close contact with other people (as much as possible), including not going to work, school or public areas and not using public transport. Please contact NHS 111 or make a GP appointment. International visitors can also contact NHS 111 or in an emergency 999.
NHS 111 is a 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week telephone advice service for members of the public to phone if they have an urgent medical concern; 999 is the contact number emergency services (Ambulance, Fire Brigade and Police), for emergency assistance.
Please be aware that calls to 111 from a foreign-registered mobile phone, within the UK, may not work and may not be free. For anyone unable to call 111, the alternative number is 0300 020 0155.
Attending events at Ricoh Arena:
If you are due to attend an event at Ricoh Arena and think you may be affected, please stay indoors, either at home or within your hotel room, avoiding contact with other people and please contact NHS 111.
Call NHS 111, stay indoors and avoid contact with other people immediately if you’ve travelled to the UK from:
- Hubei province in China in the last 14 days, even if you do not have symptoms
- Iran, lockdown areas in northern Italy or special care zones in South Korea since 19 February, even if you do not have symptoms
- other parts of mainland China or South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan or Thailand in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are mild)
- other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Vietnam since 19 February and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are mild)
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
Lock down areas in northern Italy:
- in Lombardy: Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano
- in Veneto: Vo’ Euganeo
Special care zones in South Korea:
- Daegu
- Cheongdo
If someone begins to feel unwell whilst attending an event at Ricoh Arena, they should contact our reception team or Venue Security via the emergency number of 2222 on any internal telephone. Our onsite security team have been fully briefed and have plans in place to deal with anyone experiencing the symptoms of coronavirus, including separate areas to isolate people until they can be transferred to hospital.
We are proactively encouraging staff, exhibitors and visitors to maintain personal hygiene.
Ricoh Arena’s cleaning teams are focusing on ‘high touch’ areas, where the spread of viruses is more likely. This includes:
- Hard surfaces: reception areas, kitchen areas, breakout areas and toilets
- Control pads: vending machines, photocopiers and lifts
- Door handles: main entrances, hall floor entrances, meeting rooms, stairways and toilet entrances, as well as exit push buttons
- Handrails and banisters
This is a developing situation and we would encourage you to refer to the latest information and advice on this matter from the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public
