Google is the latest company to cancel a big event and curb employee travel, as the global spread of the coronavirus outbreak has struck fear across the business world.
The tech company called off its flagship developers conference, called I/O, which was scheduled for May in Mountain View, Calif. Last year, the three-day event drew 7,000 attendees.
Google said the decision was "due to concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19), and in accordance with health guidance from the CDC, WHO, and other health authorities." People who already bought tickets to I/O will get full refunds.
The company said it would look for ways to "evolve" the event, raising the possibility of live-streamed or remote sessions. Several other companies and organizations, including the World Bank and the IMF, said they would replace in-person gatherings and meetings with virtual ones.
