On behalf of the HFA Board & Petar Seferović (HFA President 2018–2020)
It is with great regret that I inform you that Heart Failure 2020 & the World Congress on Acute Heart Failure, scheduled for 23–26 May in Barcelona, is officially cancelled.
The leadership of the ESC and the Heart Failure Association (HFA) have been closely following the current health crisis. The spread of COVID-19 around the world and the necessity for healthcare professionals to deal with the epidemic in their hospitals has impacted the availability of both faculty and delegates. Indeed, many have already cancelled their plans to attend – and that number will only grow. In addition, the Spanish authorities have declared a state of emergency while the Catalan government has imposed a total lockdown and severe travel bans.
As a result of these factors and our responsibility to protect the health of our faculty, delegates and staff, the HFA leadership has decided that cancelling Heart Failure 2020 is the only responsible course of action.
We are now discussing how we may deliver the latest updates, clinical recommendations and Late-Breaking Science via webinars or other online formats. We will keep you updated as information becomes available.
On behalf of the HFA board, we convey our heartfelt wishes to you, your families and your colleagues in these difficult times.
Petar Seferović
ESC Heart Failure Association
President 2018–2020