SXSW COULD NOT OVERCOME CORONAVIRUS PANIC; One week out, it succumbed to pressure to cancel

During a press conference, Austin Mayor Steve Adler said that "based on the recommendation of our public health officer and director of public health, and after consultation with the city manager, I've gone ahead and declared a local disaster in the city, and associated with that, have issued an order that effectively cancels SXSW." SXSW had been under immense public pressure to scrap the March 13-22 event, which is known for large interactive installations, concerts, parties, and a packed Austin Convention Center stuffed with panels and speakers. At last week's press conference, health and city officials described a series of mitigation tactics meant to limit the risk of spreading coronavirus: screening employees for illnesses or fevers before they showed up for work; providing additional hand sanitizers and hand-washing stations; and distributing signs around the event reminding people to take the proper hygienic care. Officials are also assessing ways to "lessen social contact" by possibly reducing the number of people allowed in venues at a time, said Mark Escott, medical director for Austin Public Health.