MWC 2020 | LG, ZTE withdraw from MWC 2020 due to coronavirus concerns

MWC 2020 is a few weeks away, but there will be two notable absentees at this year’s conference. Both LG and ZTE announced that they would not be attending MWC 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak in East Asia.

In a statement given to The Verge, LG said:

With the safety of its employees and the general public foremost in mind, LG has decided to withdraw from exhibiting and participating in MWC 2020 later this month in Barcelona, Spain. This decision will prevent needlessly exposing hundreds of LG employees to international travel, which most health experts have advised. In lieu of its participation in MWC, LG will be holding separate events in the near future to announce its 2020 mobile products. In lieu of its participation in MWC, LG will be holding separate events in the near future to announce its 2020 mobile products.

ZTE holds a similar position and will also not attend the conference, not wishing to expose its employees or others to what it deems as an unnecessary health risk.

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, the GSMA (the group behind MWC) has instituted several new policies to prevent any additional health risks for attendees. These include the installation of hand sanitizing stations, a “no handshake” policy, and more.