Davos World Economic Forum is delayed AGAIN due to Covid-19 after meeting of leaders and elites had already been pushed back to January
- The conference was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled last year
- It had been planned to take place at Swiss ski resort at Davos from Jan. 17 to 21
- But founder Klaus Schwab said due to Omicron the summit would not go ahead
- Past attendees include George Soros, Greta Thunberg and Prince Charles
The World Economic Forum has delayed its meeting of the global elite at the Swiss ski resort of Davos because of the new Omicron Covid variant.
The forum, which repeatedly delayed, moved and finally cancelled last year’s event due to Covid, says the planned January 17 to 21 gathering in the alpine town will now take place in ‘early summer’ – without giving specifics.
‘Despite the meeting’s stringent health protocols, the transmissibility of Omicron and its impact on travel and mobility have made deferral necessary,’ the forum said on Monday.
The annual meeting sees world leaders attending lavish dinners with financiers, celebrities and royals. Previous attendees include billionaire investor George Soros, climate activist Greta Thunberg, Prince Charles and actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
A police security guard patrols on the roof of a hotel ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Monday, January 20, 2020
The decision comes as some countries in Europe impose new restrictions or face tough choices about what to do about rising numbers of COVID-19 infections tied to omicron.
Switzerland on Friday announced requirements to show proof of vaccination or Covid recovery to go to restaurants and indoor events amid a spike in infections in recent weeks, largely of the delta variant.
‘The deferral of the annual meeting will not prevent progress through continued digital convening of leaders from business, government and civil society,’ said Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF.
‘Public-private cooperation has moved forward throughout the pandemic and that will continue apace.’
The forum still plans to host a ‘digital convening of leaders from business, government and civil society,’ Schwab said.
WEF said a ‘headline series of State of the World sessions’ would bring them together online to address global challenges.
Last year, the meeting was moved from Davos because of Covid and had been due to be held in Singapore in August but it was eventually cancelled.
Launched in 1971, the WEF says it aims to ‘improve the state of the world’ by uniting business leaders, politicians, charities and great thinkers.
It has been criticised as elitist and Boris Johnson banned ministers from attending in December 2019, saying they should not be ‘sipping champagne with billionaires.’
The annual meeting sees world leaders attending lavish dinners with financiers, celebrities and royals. Previous attendees include billionaire investor George Soros (left), climate activist Greta Thunberg (right), Prince Charles and actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
The cancellation of the annual WEF summit comes as global equity and oil markets slumped Monday on investor panic over the impact of worldwide measures to contain the fast-spreading variant.
Asia tanked on concern over a fresh global surge in coronavirus infections, sparking a fierce renewed selloff in Europe, and Wall Street also fell at the opening bell.
Oil tumbled by more than five percent at one point as traders fretted over the fallout for the world’s appetite for energy, which has already taken a heavy blow since the pandemic erupted early last year.
Sentiment was jarred by the future of US President Joe Biden’s massive social spending bill after it lost the crucial vote of a moderate Democrat.
The British pound fell sharply after the surprise weekend departure of Boris Johnson’s Brexit minister David Frost.
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