The unexpected and rapid spread of coronavirus not only in China and in other parts of the world has caused a lot of problems in various industries and the world economy in general. Since Jan. 2020, a lot of events and major conferences have been canceled over fears of the deadly virus. The latest casualty of the COVID-19 outbreak is Google I/O 2020.
Google I/O 2020
Search engine and tech juggernaut Google earlier scheduled its Google I/O 2020 Developers Conference on May 12 to 14. However, the company recently announced that it is no longer holding the in-person or physical event over concerns of COVID-19. Instead, the search engine giant will hold the event online.
"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," says Google Events. "All guests who have purchased tickets to I/O 2020 will receive a full refund by March 13, 2020."
The statement adds that "If you don't see the credit on your statement by then, please reach out to io@google.com. Guests who have registered for I/O 2020 will not need to enter next year's drawing and will be automatically granted the option of purchasing an I/O 2021 ticket. Over the coming weeks, we will explore other ways to evolve Google I/O to best connect with our developer community," the company assures.
The Google I/O trade event is usually the venue where the tech giant launches the latest changes to Android and several updates to its apps and products. This year's event is anticipated to launch the Google Pixel 4a smartphone. Tech enthusiasts are also expecting that Google would reveal more details about Android 11 on the said event.
Other Cancelled Events Due To COVID-19
The Google I/O 2020 is not the only event that was canceled because of concerns over COVID-19. Social media giant Facebook recently canceled its F8 event because of the deadly virus outbreak. The Geneva Motor Show and the Game Developer Conference were also canceled earlier over concerns of the COVID-19.
Last month, one of the major tech trade events, the Mobile World Congress, was also canceled despite that it would be held in Barcelona. The team behind SXSW is optimistic that the event is still happening even though major names already send feelers about pulling out of the show or sending a limited number of employees.
