STAFDA cancels in response to California's Covid shutdown

The Specialty Tool and Fastener Distributors Association (STAFDA) has cancelled its 44th annual convention and trade show after the State of California shutdown on Monday 13 July.

The state has reverted back to 'Phase 1' with no reopening date on the horizon, as a result of a spike in Covid-19 cases. This has left STAFDA no choice, the association says, but to cancel the trade show set to take place 8-10 November.

In a statement, STAFDA said: "This unfortunate and unforeseeable circumstance is forcing STAFDA to cancel its November 8-10 Convention and Trade Show in Anaheim at the Anaheim Convention Centre. The Covid-related conditions in California are beyond STAFDA's control, making it impossible for us to move forward with our meeting."

This comes just days after Anaheim Convention centre announced it had been awarded the Global Biorisk Advisory Council's (GBAC) STAR accreditation, and it seemed plans for STAFDA to carry on were still very much in place.

Association members will now have to wait until to STAFDA's 2021 convention and trade show, due to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, between 7-9 November.