I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe during these unprecedented times. We appreciate all the work our community is undertaking, despite the limitations as a result of COVID-19.
I would like to share with you that ICANN org has updated its travel and meetings guidance due to the continued pandemic.
Our team continues to proactively monitor the situation through working with several travel, security and safety experts around the world, and following guidance from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We are taking every precaution necessary to minimize the exposure and spread of the virus.
After careful consideration and collaboration with the Board and Supporting Organization and Advisory Committee (SO/AC) leadership, we have extended the suspension of face-to-face meetings and business travel until 31 December 2020. Additionally, the org staff will continue to work from home until the end of this year. Put simply, extending this guidance is the right thing to do during this historic time. We will reassess regularly as part of our monitoring of the situation and advise if there are any changes to this guidance.
The health and safety of our community and staff are always our top concern, and we believe it is not prudent to travel or encourage gatherings until at least the end of 2020. The ongoing and long-term health impact of COVID-19 on our community and staff is a risk that we are not willing to take. In addition, the travel landscape has not yet stabilized, which makes any travel complicated and risky.
We know these are difficult times for many, and we miss meeting face-to-face, connecting, and collaborating. I look forward to connecting with you virtually as we move through these uncertain times.
