Are we really surprised though?
MWC - also known as Mobile World Congress - is the largest annual trade show in the smartphone industry. Earlier on, big guns such as Sony, LG, Amazon, and NVIDIA have already announced that they will be pulling out of the event to protect their employees from the extremely contagious nature of the coronavirus.
Originally scheduled to run from 24 to 27 February, the MWC would have been the event where many brands reveal their newest tech and devices for 2020 - such as Vivo's first 120W Super FlashCharge smartphone, the APEX 2020. Now that that won't be happening, you can expect to see them revealed in separate events or online presentations instead.
This is the full statement from the GSMA, the organisation that runs the event:
"Since the first edition of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in 2006, the GSMA has convened the industry, governments, ministers, policymakers, operators and industry leaders across the broader ecosystem.
With due regard to the safe and healthy environment in Barcelona and the host country today, the GSMA has cancelled MWC Barcelona 2020 because the global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event.
The Host City Parties respect and understand this decision. The GSMA and the Host City Parties will continue to be working in unison and supporting each other for MWC Barcelona 2021 and future editions. Our sympathies at this time are with those affected in China, and all around the world."
Coronavirus has already taken the lives of more than 1,000 victims in China, and many large-scale events - such as the APAC Predator League and even Jay Chou's KL concert - have been postponed or outright cancelled to prevent further spread of the virus.
