Las Vegas Convention Center steps up effort to fight coronavirus

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is collaborating with the U.S. Travel Association and public health organizations to monitor the spread of the coronavirus and to issue updates to trade show customers and Southern Nevada’s resort community.

Shortly after the Centers for Disease Control began to prepare the public for the potential spread of COVID-19 in the United States, the LVCVA posted updates and guidelines on its business website explaining precautions it is taking.

No cases of the virus have been reported in Nevada, and health authorities have not issued any domestic travel notices, precautions or guidance specific to travel. But the CDC has updated international travel warnings to include South Korea and Italy with China in its latest dispatches.

NXT Global Summit and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations canceled planned meetings in Las Vegas, and Adobe’s Summit and Aruba Networks’ Atmosphere conferences are being turned into online events.

But two major trade shows on the city’s convention calendar are intact as of Wednesday evening, including next week’s CONEXPO-CON/AGG construction equipment show, and April’s National Association of Broadcasters event. The National Football League also has indicated it would go forward with April’s NFL draft.

The LVCVA said the Las Vegas Convention Center has boosted efforts to provide a healthy environment for upcoming events:

*Increased cleaning protocols to include more frequent wiping and disinfecting of touch points in its facility during occupied show hours, such as door handles, elevator buttons, handrails, restroom stall doors and sinks.

*Added hand sanitizer stations in strategically placed areas throughout the facility.

*Increased the outside air intake/air change rates during occupied show hours.

*Reinforced its standard employee health practices, including sending employees home and or encouraging employees to stay home if they are sick or demonstrated health symptoms that could impact colleagues or guests.

*Reinforced its standard food safety awareness programs including frequent hand washing and making alcohol-based hand gel-rub available at every food station and every table at food outlets.

*Participated in ongoing webinars and conference calls with the International Association of Venue Managers to stay abreast of new practices, protocols and guidance.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter.