The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) cancelled Roofing Day III scheduled for next month in Washington D.C. due to the worsening coronavirus pandemic.

Roofing Day is the largest annual fly-in event the roofing industry started in order to lobby members of Congress in Washington D.C. This would have been the third consecutive year that roofing contractors and other industry professionals converged on Capitol Hill for a little face time with influential elected officials and their staff. But health concerns and precautionary orders from federal and local authorities to limit group gatherings and social contacts to help prevent the spread of the virus are taking top priority.

NRCA officials closely monitored the rapidly changing situation regarding the spread of the virus known as COVID-19, and hoped the event may continue. However, they felt they had no choice but to cancel after the Centers for Disease Control on Sunday strongly recommended cancelling all events involving more than 50 participants because of the ongoing public health crisis. Also on Sunday, officials with the District of Columbia issued regulatory guidance effectively prohibiting meetings of more than 250 people within Washington, D.C.

"In light of this situation and after careful consideration with the health and safety of participants foremost in mind, Roofing Day in D.C. 2020, scheduled for April 21-22, has been cancelled," wrote Duane Musser, NRCA's vice president of government relations in a letter to members of the Roofing Day Advisory Task Force. "Unfortunately, given the unique size and scope of Roofing Day in D.C. 2020, it is not feasible for the event to be rescheduled during the remainder of this year."

Preparations for Roofing Day in D.C. on March 23-24, 2021 are underway. Registration fees for this year's event will rollover to next year. Those unable to attend in 2021 are asked to call 800-338-5765. More details are expected soon.

"Please know this was a difficult decision, and the NRCA is extremely disappointed Roofing Day in D.C. 2020 will not take place. However, it is clearly the correct decision at this time," Musser wrote.

The NRCA also cancelled the Diversity + Inclusion Forum 2020 in Washington, D.C., and the Roofing Alliance Member Meeting in Sarasota, Fla., April 23-25. The organization also postponed the following: its March 20 Foreman Leadership Training, Level 1 class in Rosemont, Ill.; The Qualified Trainer Conference in Portsmouth, Va., March 26-27; and the CERTA Train-the-Trainer class in Elgin, Ill., on April 9.

The NRCA isn't the first roofing industry event to fall victim to COVID-19. Leaders of the North/East Roofing Contractors Association (NERCA) officially postponed their annual convention scheduled for this week in Atlantic City. IIBEC soon followed suit, postponing its convention scheduled for March 26-31 in Houston. Neither group has announced rescheduled dates.

Be sure to check roofingcontractor.com for the latest information about how the coronavirus is affecting the roofing industry.