Coronavirus outbreak has become a global epidemic and with that, several planned conferences have been cancelled to ensure safety of every stakeholder. Now, Google has also joined the list.
Tech giant Google has officially cancelled its Google I/O 2020 developers conference that was scheduled to take place from May 12th to May 14th. The company said that it is canceling the in-person portion but is still exploring ways to connect with developers.
In a statement, Google’s spokesperson said: “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.”
The company has also said that it will refund those who bought tickets to Google I/O, and it also confirmed that Google has banned international employee travel. The development comes just a week after Facebook canceled its annual F8 developer conference.
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Usually, during I/O conference, the company introduces new changes to Android, Google-powered hardware, and even updates to services like Google Maps. The company was expected to launch its Pixel 4a smartphone at the event, which is also reportedly being delayed as Google is shifting production outside China.
The search engine giant had announced the I/O 2020 conference in January this year but the process for the ticket application and ticket draw just last month. It was to be held at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California which is situated right next to the Googleplex. This would have marked the fifth year for the company to host its annual developer conference at the Shoreline Amphitheater.
As per the data from Johns Hopkins University, coronavirus has been spread to more than 50 countries around the globe, with roughly 91,300 confirmed cases and at least 3,110 deaths so far.
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