On Friday evening November the 12th, the Dutch government has declared the lockdown due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.
After a deep and careful evaluation, it is with regret that our company Quick S.p.A. has decided not to attend this year’s edition of METS.
The reasons that led us to make this difficult decision are the following:
- ETHICAL: our priority is to protect our employees and their families. Quick is responsible for the employees health and their 250 families who would be exposed to a very high risk without any government support. In fact, the Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents and Illnesses at Work does not recognize COVID-19 infection contracted in a foreign lockdown area as an insured case. But it is also a matter of responsibility towards the city of Amsterdam as well as towards Italy. We MUST BE RESPONSIBLE and prevent the virus from spreading further by reducing all journeys not extremely necessary.
- BUSINESS RISK: for the benefit of our customers, it is extremely important that the production activity isn’t interrupted nor suffers any delay/slowdown. In case an employee contracted COVID-19, coming back from Amsterdam, spreading the virus inside the company, this would drastically affect the ordinary working schedules causing delays and difficulties to meet the deadlines.
- ATTENDANCE: attending METS this year won’t be worth the health risk. In fact, the people flow at the fair will be drastically reduced and most of the customers have already informed us that, for safety reasons, they won’t attend the show, cancelling scheduled meetings.
We hope that the Fair Organization will take seriously the word of those exhibitors who have decided responsibly not to participate and so, to postpone the METS 2021, showing it cares about everyone’s health, like Quick S.p.A. and many others.
The METS we all know and love is a perfect place for meetings, exchanges and brand comparison, not empty pavilions without public.
Certain of your understanding, we will find a different way to present our new products, looking forward to physically meet you all at the next chance we’ll get.