Mystery Writers of America announced they have made the decision to cancel the annual Edgar Awards Mystery Week events, originally scheduled for late April. The Edgars Symposium, Deadly Anniversaries launch party, and the Edgars Banquet are all affected. Here's the official statement:
It is with heavy heart that we have to let you know we are cancelling both the Edgar Awards banquet and the symposium.
All bars and restaurants have been closed in New York City due to the pandemic (other than for delivery and pick-up), and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement on Sunday urging people to cancel or postpone all events bringing together 50 or more people for the next eight weeks, including weddings. “Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities,” the CDC said on their website. “Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies.
This year is the 75th anniversary of MWA; our Edgar week festivities were to be a celebration of that anniversary.
But the health, safety, and well-being of our nominees, guests, members and the hotel staff have to be paramount, and it is not in anyone’s best interest that we go forward with the festivities.
We still plan on celebrating the achievements of our finalists and announcing the winners; how we will do that is currently under discussion.
We also still intend to publish this year’s Edgar annual.
We do hope you will join us next year, when we will celebrate this year’s anniversary for MWA along with the 75th anniversary of the Edgars themselves.
Please do everything you can to keep yourself and your loved ones safe, and we look forward to seeing you next year.
MWA National Board of Directors
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