Salone del Mobile postponed due to coronavirus

Salone del Mobile, the world's most well known furniture fair, has been postponed until June in response to the outbreak of coronavirus in Italy.

Held each year in Milan, the fair was scheduled to take place between 21 and 26 April 2020. New dates were announced yesterday following a meeting of the event's organisers. 

"Following an extraordinary meeting today of the Board of Federlegno Arredo Eventi, and in view of the ongoing public health emergency, the decision has been taken to postpone the upcoming edition of the Salone del Mobile, Milan to 16th – 21st June," a statement released by the organisation stated.

"Confirmation of the change of date for the trade fair – strongly supported by the Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala – means that the manufacturers, in a major show of responsibility, will be able to present their finalised work to an international public that sees the annual appointment with the Salone del Mobile as a benchmark for creativity and design."

In a video message posted on Twitter alongside the announcement of the postponement, Milan's mayor Giuseppe Sala called on "our colleagues in the furnishing sector and the Salone del Mobile to pull together to make sure Milan doesn't grind to a halt.

"We need to work objectively to stop this virus spreading, but we must also take care not to spread the virus of distrust."

For the first time, more new cases of Covid-19 were reported outside China than inside, according to the World Health Organisation this week. In Italy, the virus has infected at least 325 people, the majority of them in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto where the cities of Milan and Venice are located. 

Travel restrictions are in place within Italy, with 12 of the worst affected towns in Lombardy and Veneto in quarantine, a move put in place by Italy's prime minister Giuseppe Conte on Saturday that bans anyone from leaving or entering the affected areas.

Other major events have been cancelled or postponed including the annual Venice Carnival.

Delays and shutdowns in China are also affecting logistics, with the global construction industry particularly concerned about the likely impacts. 

^{Banner image: Salone del Mobile.}