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Simon & Schuster has announced none of its employees in the UK or US will attend the rearranged Bologna Book Fair in May.
Organisers of the children’s fair announced last month it was being delayed for a month until May because of the coronavirus crisis in Italy.
But S&S said today that it would not be attending the new dates and staff would find "alternate means" to meet clients.
A spokesman said: “The health and safety of Simon & Schuster’s employees, as well as the well-being of our many friends and colleagues in our industry, is always our primary consideration. We appreciate that the Bologna Book Fair has been postponed until May, but after due consideration and out of an abundance of caution, Simon & Schuster has decided that its employees (US & UK) will not attend the fair this year.
“Those staff who were scheduled to attend Bologna are currently exploring alternate means to have meetings with their contacts in the international children’s publishing community.”
S&S announced earlier this week it would not be attending the London Book Fair, just minutes before the event was cancelled following a string of high-profile pullouts and rising concern over the coronavirus.
The news comes after plans were announced to sell the firm this week, with HarperCollins thought to be among the interested buyers.