Google I/O event cancelled due to Coronavirus, COVID-19 virus

Coronavirus has been spreading so rapidly that it is no less than a global disaster. The COVID-19 virus so far has resulted in confirmed 91,300 cases and more than 3,110 deaths globally- Johns Hopkins University. Not only on people’s health COVID-19 virus is affecting, but also the global market as well. Talking about the global market, companies like Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, Huawei are forced to back off of an event or forced to postpone their certain schedule. Mobile World Congress (MWC), one of the most consequential events for scale, content, and influence within the mobile industry was scheduled to run from Feb 24- 27 but has been canceled over coronavirus concern. Most of the companies backed off from attending the event. Not only this Samsung and LG had to shut down their factory at Gumi, South Korea due to the same reason as of MWC. Now Google has canceled the physical Google I/O event at Shoreline Amphitheatre. This was set to take place on May 12-14.

Google I/O Event 2020

Google I/O event is one of the biggest news events of the year for the introduction of new changes to Android, Google-powered hardware, and updates to services like Google Maps and many more. This event is the perfect platform for global developers a chance to touch, feel and interact with Google’s latest technology. This event draws in several thousand attendees globally. That’s a huge number of attendees. There is no way that Google will risk the lives of these thousands of people.
Google Developers even tweeted this,

A #GoogleIO update.

Due to concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19), we’ve decided to cancel this year’s physical event at Shoreline Amphitheatre. It’s sad that we won’t be able to gather as a developer community but your health and safety is our priority. (1/2)

— Google Developers (@googledevs) March 3, 2020

Due to concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19), and in accordance with health guidance from the CDC, WHO, and other health authorities, we have decided to cancel the physical Google I/O event at Shoreline Amphitheatre,” explains a Google spokesperson in a statement to The Verge. “Over the coming weeks, we will explore other ways to evolve Google I/O to best connect with and continue to build our developer community. We’ll continue to update the Google I/O website”, Google official stated.

As per Google, all the people who have purchased tickets for the event will be refunded by 13 March 2020. Those who have registered for I/O 2020 will be automatically granted the option for purchasing an I/O 2021 ticket.

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