Organizers of AIDS-research conference to try to do it online instead of at the Hynes due to coronavirus

Organizers of one of the world's largest conferences on AIDS have announced this morning they're canceling the in-person conference that had been scheduled to start Sunday at the Hynes and will instead attempt to run all of its discussions online because of growing concerns over Covid-19.

In an update this morning, organizers of the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections wrote:

Because of increasing concerns that travel to a large group gathering like CROI is not advisable from a personal and public health perspective, the CROI leadership has come to the difficult decision that the 2020 CROI meeting will be virtual. ...

CROI leadership will be present in Boston to facilitate the success of the virtual program. We ask for your patience and understanding as we work through very difficult logistical issues in creating an entirely virtual program in a few short days. There are many uncertainties and unknowns as we balance the need to act responsibly in the face of the growing COVID-19 pandemic while doing our best to protect the integrity of the science that serves those living with or at risk of HIV.

Attendees were urged to cancel their travel and hotel plans as soon as possible to try to avoid or minimize cancellation fees.