The upcoming GSMA World Congress – Europe's biggest technology show - is being hit with the ongoing coronavirus threat. South Korea's LG Electronics has just withdrawn from the event and China's ZTE has cancelled its press conference.
Registered vendors and partners will now be waiting to see who else cancels. The virus is still growing and has killed over 400 in China.
Panicked by the growing commercial and medical threat, the GSMA has announced a series of measures aimed at reassuring committed attendees and practically protecting them – including a “no-handshake” policy.
As of today, the GSMA says the show will go on, but if more telecoms and mobile heavyweights start pulling out in larger numbers the event is bound to be under greater threat. All eyes will now be on Chinese industry giant Huawei to see what it chooses to do in the face of the threat.
The GSMA said it “continues to monitor and assess the potential impact” of the coronavirus on its MWC events held annually in Barcelona, Shanghai and Los Angeles.
Protection measures in place include:
- Increased cleaning and disinfection programme across all high-volume touchpoints, like catering areas, surfaces, handrails, toilets, entrances/exits and public touchscreens
- Increased on-site medical support
- Availability of sanitising and disinfection materials for public use
- Awareness and training for all staff and associates on standard personal preventative measures, including personal hygiene and frequency of use of sanitising/disinfection products
- Advice to exhibitors on implementing effective cleaning and disinfection of stands and offices
- Installing new signage onsite reminding attendees of hygiene recommendations
- Implementing a microphone change protocol for speakers
- Communicating advice to all attendees to adopt a “no-handshake policy”
“These measures include adhering to advice from the WHO (World Health Organisation) and other health authorities, respecting travel restrictions where they exist, arriving early in Spain to allow time for self-quarantine and ensuring access to masks,” said the GSMA.
