The ongoing resurgence of COVID-19 is hammering Connecticut’s events industry, as more large gatherings and conferences are canceled or going remote.
The Connecticut Business & Industry Association this week announced that it is moving its Economic Summit + Outlook 2022 conference online, due to the recent increase in COVID positivity rates. The event, which is taking place Jan. 21, was supposed to be held in-person at the Hartford Marriott Downtown, on Columbus Boulevard.
Also this week, the Connecticut Marine Trades Association announced it has canceled this year’s Hartford Boat Show. The annual showcase was to be held Jan. 20-23 at Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville.
There are no plans to reschedule this year’s event, organizers said.
Similarly, the latest coronavirus wave has forced Connecticut colleges and universities to call off numerous sporting events. The UConn women’s basketball team has so far canceled four consecutive games, though a match against Creighton University at Gampel Pavilion, scheduled for Sunday, is still on for the time being.
Connecticut’s COVID-19 positivity rate was 22.8% as of Thursday, and the state is seeing a corresponding rise in hospitalizations. Hartford HealthCare reported this week that its number of admitted COVID patients has surpassed the health system’s previous April 2020 peak.
