Dear Colleagues,

It feels like summer is here and we are all emerging, however slowly, from this global nightmare.

However optimistic we would like to be about the future, one regrettable casualty of the COVID-19 crisis is the 2020 live Face To Face ESCRS Congress. It was to be held in Amsterdam in October. Instead, we will host our first ESCRS Virtual Congress on Friday 2 October through Sunday 4 October.

Most of all, protecting our delegates and other stakeholders from potential infection in a crowded meeting space is our overriding concern. We hope this early notice gives you the time you need to arrange your participation in the Virtual Congress.

This year’s meeting will feature cutting edge research in a highly interactive setting, with online messaging available from your home or office.

Our industry partners are also lending their full support. In addition to helping out with the enormous technical challenges this congress presents, they will be hosting a virtual exhibit hall as well as lunchtime educational events. This event is a work in progress so login to www.escrs.org for further updates.

In this week’s newsletter, we bring you reports from five of our colleagues across Europe who have shared with us their protocols for opening their clinics. I think it will make interesting reading for you.

Be safe and well and hope to see you online in October!

Rudy Nuijts
Prof. dr Rudy MMA Nuijts
ESCRS President