Our team has been closely monitoring the unprecedented events taking place around the world due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As a Registered Nurse (my second career), I have been paying very close attention to the warnings and recommendations being made by experts daily. With the latest guidelines published by the CDC and the Government of the State of New York (the closing of New York City schools, theaters, restaurants, bars and other places where crowds gather), we have made the difficult decision to postpone the release of our April issue, which is titled “The Food Issue.”

The novel coronavirus has touched everyone’s life in one way or another. The impact and aftermath of this disease will most likely ripple for months, if not years, to come. Even though many worry about the blow this disease will cause to the world’s economy (specifically to the travel, hospitality, and food industries), we must not forget the most devastating aspect of what is going on right now: the loss of human life.

As of the time of this writing, Italy (our main feature for The Food Issue) continues to be profoundly affected by this pandemic, with reports of a higher mortality rate than in China. And, as of today, the infection rate in the United States has continued to rise, with the US Surgeon General pointing out that the number of US cases is where Italy was just two weeks ago. While Italy, a country of 16 million, has now been in a nation-wide quarantine since 9 March 2020, cities and states across the United States have just now started to implement similar measures.

Guild Magazine was launched with the mission of being the voice and platform for professionals and up-and-comers in the fields of art, travel, fashion, and food. Our decision to postpone this issue has been made with our mission in mind.

We are aware of the life-changing effects the novel coronavirus will have in our lives and how business owners and entrepreneurs will be affected. We also know the pain of losing a loved one, and the time it takes for the human heart to learn to live with that pain. We have postponed our next issue to a future date when we can be of full support to the creatives, business owners, and entrepreneurs we are featuring in The Food Issue. A time when we can continue to inspire our readers to explore what their communities have to offer and to travel the world and immerse themselves into different cultures and traditions, essential to the creation of memories, human interaction, and the building of lasting relationships beyond borders.

With this said, we are not going anywhere. We also know the importance of breaking from the daily news cycle and partaking in and reading about the activities and subjects we love and enjoy. Guild Magazine will continue to publish articles online for your pleasure, relaxation, and the continuation of our mission. We are all in this together, as one, and we are here for you during these challenging times.