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Nvidia drops out of MWC 2020 over coronavirus worries

LG and Ericsson had already said they won't attend the world's largest mobile trade show, which starts Feb. 24.

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Amid the global scare over the coronavirus, a woman wears a mask at an airport in Thailand.

Amid the global scare over the coronavirus, a woman wears a mask at an airport in Thailand.

Anusak Laowilas/Getty Images

Another company has decided to skip Mobile World Congress due to concerns over the global coronavirus outbreak. Graphics-chip maker Nvidia said late Friday that it's shelving plans to attend this year's MWC, the world's largest mobile trade show.

"Given public health risks around the coronavirus, ensuring the safety of our colleagues, partners and customers is our highest concern," the company said in a blog post.

"We've been looking forward to sharing our work in AI, 5G and vRAN with the industry," the company said in the post. "We regret not attending, but believe this is the right decision."

LG and Ericsson have already said they won't attend MWC 2020, set to start Feb. 24 in Barcelona, Spain. ZTE has called off its press conference.

Declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization, the coronavirus is a pneumonia-like illness that, as of Feb. 7, has struck nearly 35,000 people and killed more than 720. The virus was detected in Wuhan, China, in December and has spread to nearly 30 countries. In addition to its health risks, the coronavirus has had a ripple effect on businesses and global industries. Companies including Apple, Google and Nintendo have closed offices, limited business travel and faced supply chain disruptions.

The GSMA, the organization that runs MWC, said it will have additional medical personnel on-site. It's also put other measures in place to reduce the risks posed by the disease, including a no-handshake policy.

CNET's Katie Collins and Shara Tibken contributed to this report.