I think it's a matter of scale. Since F8 is an international conference there's more of a risk, and they have to make the decision sooner so people can get refunds on their plane flights and hotel rooms.

OTOH a birthday party is unlikely to increase the risk much compared to work/school. In a few months that calculation might look very different though, e.g. Japan closed all its schools. But the US is more spread out so a lot of regions will be protected by their isolation.

It's pretty much a case by case basis with events. RSA happened although some companies pulled out. I'm attending a smaller (but still fairly large) US event next week. It's still on but they're asking people to certify they aren't sick and haven't been to China in the last couple of weeks. (And some other precautions like a no handshaking protocol.)

This is the first one I've seen cancel that far out. (Well, I know another but I think there were other factors at play there as well.)

Why are there so many acronyms like AFAIK or OTOH? What do people do with all the free time they save from abbreviating as such? :P

Turning 4 or turning 5? If turning 4, canceling is reasonable. The kid won't really know what a birthday is and won't realize anything is missing or changed. The parties are almost more for the adults.

If turning 5, I'd probably keep it. On the other hand, you can scale back how you do it. The kid won't really know the difference. Besides, at that age, bigger isn't better. More friends is just overwhelming.

> The kid won't really know what a birthday is

I've never met a 4 year old who wouldn't know what a birthday is.

Speak for yourself my fourth birthday was the best.

Postponing is better than cancelling.

a 12 month postpone is in order

Better to postpone until summer. There's no indication that next winter won't be a much worse repeat of what we're seeing now.

To be fair, children's parties are a hive of disease sharing opportunities.. so even forgetting COVID-19, if you're not really into birthday parties and this give you permission to not have it, I'd take it ;-)

Maybe skip the bobbing for apples activity, but otherwise I would just keep an eye on things. If they’re still at school, then they’re plenty exposed there — so is a birthday party going to make the difference?

Our daughters’ birthdays are coming up as well, and for now I’m keeping the plans, but am at least preparing in case schools cancel, etc.

FWIW, in response to the other reply, as a parent of 3 children under 6, I can say with recent experience that a birthday can be very important to a three year old (depending on the kid obviously).

International attendance conferences should be scaled back.

Local birthday parties in cities without community spread are fine.

Once there is community spread if you city, then work from home, no birthday parties, maybe no school, etc.

There might be significant risk for any grandparents attending. All the older members in our extended family are preparing to hunker down for a while.

If you live in China maybe. Otherwise no.