Intel pulls out of MWC 2020 due to coronavirus fears
Intel confirmed Tuesday that it won't attend Mobile World Congress this year, joining a stream of tech companies reacting to the deadly coronavirus outbreak. Amazon, LG and Sony are among those that have already pulled out of the Barcelona trade show, which is scheduled for Feb. 24-27.
"The safety and wellbeing of all our employees and partners is our top priority, and we have withdrawn from this year's Mobile World Congress out of an abundance of caution," a spokesperson for the California-based semiconductor company said in an emailed statement.
NTT Docomo, the Japanese carrier, is opting out of the show too. The decision was made "in consideration of the safety of the visitors, partner companies and staff members," NTT Docomo said Monday.
Chinese phone-maker Vivo is taking a similar approach, it confirmed via email, and is delaying the reveal of its 2020 Apex Concept.
The novel coronavirus was discovered in December in Wuhan, the capital of China's Hubei region. As of Tuesday, the pneumonialike illness had infected more than 43,000 people and claimed more than 1,000 lives. Cases have been confirmed in around 30 countries, including two in Spain.
GSMA, the trade group that puts on MWC, said the show is going ahead, but it's putting extra public health measures in place -- including banning travelers from Hubei province.
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