Coronavirus, the flu-type virus which is spreading across the globe, is starting to impact the tech industry with two companies modifying their Mobile World Congress showings later this month as a result.
Today, the Chinese phone manufacturer ZTE confirmed it would be cancelling its press conference at the world’s biggest mobile trade show, which takes place in Barcelona between February 24-27.
In addition, Korean-based tech giant LG has also said it will withdraw from exhibiting and participating at the show completely. In a statement, LG said this decision “removes the risk of exposing hundreds of LG employees to international travel which has already been more restrictive as the virus continues to spread across borders.”
GSMA, the company which organises MWC, said it has implemented measures to help mitigate the spread of the virus including an increased cleaning and disinfection programme, increased onsite medial support, and will be asking attendees to adopt a ‘no-handshake policy.’
Elsewhere in the tech world, Apple has temporarily closed all its stores and offices in China as a result of the outbreak. In a statement the company said: “Out of an abundance of caution and based on the latest advice from leading health experts, we’re closing all our corporate offices, stores and contact centres in mainland China through February 9.
“We will continue to closely monitor the situation and we look forward to reopening our stores as soon as possible.”
Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019 – In pictures
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The Nomu S50 Pro waterproof smartphone is displayed at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona
AFP/Getty Images
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AFP/Getty Images
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A TCL DragonHinge foldable prototype is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
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A visitor plays with a 5G technological robot
EPA
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A Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
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Manuel Valls (2-R), candidate of Ciudadanos Party for Barcelona’s Mayor, next to party’s leader in Catalonia, Ines Arrimadas (R), visits the automobile company SEAT’ stand, during the second day of Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona
EPA
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A BlackBerry Key2 is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
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A person holds America-based Chinese company Royole’s foldable mobile device FlexiPai
AFP/Getty Images
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People dance in a 360-degree Samsung videobooth
AFP/Getty Images
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Sophie the Robot of Hanson Robotics is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
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A visitor tests a virtual reality headset at the Saudi Telecom Company (STC)
AFP/Getty Images
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A visitor tests a collaborative mobile sensor
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EHang 216, a 5G-enabled aerial taxi by Ooredoo
AFP/Getty Images
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A visitor tests a LG 5G VR headset
EPA
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A BMW Vision iNEXT is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
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A purse featuring Royole’s foldable mobile device FlexiPai is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
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A XR-1 5G cloud robot by CloudMinds shakes hands with a visitor,
AP
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An employee frames the new Huawei Mate X foldable phone
EPA
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A visitor interacts with a Huawei Cloud X simulated reality stand
AFP/Getty Images
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A visitor holds the new Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
AP
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The new models of Sony Xperia 10
AP
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Attendees take pictures of the new Huawei Mate X foldable 5G smartphone
AP
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A woman holds a 5G-enabled Samsung phone
AFP/Getty Images
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Singtel Group chief executive officer Chua Sock Koong delivers a keynote speech
AFP/Getty Images
1/24
The Nomu S50 Pro waterproof smartphone is displayed at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona
AFP/Getty Images
2/24
AFP/Getty Images
3/24
A TCL DragonHinge foldable prototype is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
4/24
A visitor plays with a 5G technological robot
EPA
5/24
A Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
6/24
Manuel Valls (2-R), candidate of Ciudadanos Party for Barcelona’s Mayor, next to party’s leader in Catalonia, Ines Arrimadas (R), visits the automobile company SEAT’ stand, during the second day of Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona
EPA
7/24
A BlackBerry Key2 is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
8/24
A person holds America-based Chinese company Royole’s foldable mobile device FlexiPai
AFP/Getty Images
9/24
People dance in a 360-degree Samsung videobooth
AFP/Getty Images
10/24
Sophie the Robot of Hanson Robotics is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
11/24
A visitor tests a virtual reality headset at the Saudi Telecom Company (STC)
AFP/Getty Images
12/24
A visitor tests a collaborative mobile sensor
AFP/Getty Images
13/24
EHang 216, a 5G-enabled aerial taxi by Ooredoo
AFP/Getty Images
14/24
A visitor tests a LG 5G VR headset
EPA
15/24
A BMW Vision iNEXT is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
16/24
A purse featuring Royole’s foldable mobile device FlexiPai is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
17/24
A XR-1 5G cloud robot by CloudMinds shakes hands with a visitor,
AP
18/24
An employee frames the new Huawei Mate X foldable phone
EPA
19/24
A visitor interacts with a Huawei Cloud X simulated reality stand
AFP/Getty Images
20/24
A visitor holds the new Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
AP
21/24
The new models of Sony Xperia 10
AP
22/24
Attendees take pictures of the new Huawei Mate X foldable 5G smartphone
AP
23/24
A woman holds a 5G-enabled Samsung phone
AFP/Getty Images
24/24
Singtel Group chief executive officer Chua Sock Koong delivers a keynote speech
AFP/Getty Images
Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company does have some suppliers in the Wuhan area, where the virus originated from a wholesale food market, however, Apple is working on mitigation plans to prevent any production loss.
As of February 4, there have been over 20,000 confirmed cases from coronavirus. Two cases have been confirmed in the UK, however health secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Breakfast this morning that he expects to see more cases in Britain.
Hancock said: “There are two cases only here in the UK but we do expect more, so we are taking no chances.”
Update: this article has been updated to reflect that ZTE is only cancelling its conference at MWC and will still be exhibiting at the show.
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