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GSMA Statement on Coronavirus; MWC20 Barcelona to be held as planned

GSMA has assured that it is monitoring and assessing the potential impact of the Coronavirus on its MWC20 events held annually in Barcelona

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Voice&Data Bureau
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GSMA MWC 2020 at Barcelona

The fear of the fast-spreading Coronavirus from China has left the world gripped with fear of a possible uncontrollable epidemic. A new coronavirus designated 2019-nCoV was first identified in Wuhan, the capital of  China's Hubei province, after people developed pneumonia without a clear cause and for which existing vaccines or treatments were not effective. The Wuhan coronavirus has spread throughout the world since the first cases were detected in central China in December. At least 170 people have died and more than 7,700 are fighting symptoms including fever and breathing difficulties.

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As China's National Health Commission has confirmed the virus can be transmitted from person to person through "droplet transmission" -- where a virus is passed on due to an infected person sneezing or coughing -- as well as by direct contact, GSMA was compelled to reveal a press statement on its preparedness for MWC20.
In the press statement, GSMA has assured that it is monitoring and assessing the potential impact of the Coronavirus on its MWC20 events held annually in Barcelona, Shanghai, and Los Angeles and as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences.
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The upcoming MWC Barcelona event, 24-27 February 2020, will proceed as planned, across all venues at Fira Gran Via and Fira Montjuïc, including YoMo and Four Years From Now (4YFN). Specifically, for MWC Barcelona 2020, several measures are already in place.

The GSMA says it will:

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  • Carefully follow and adhere to: the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendations, all applicable Chinese government recommendations, all Spanish health authority recommendations, and all police/health recommendations and protocols
  • Provide additional medical personnel for on-site support in the run-up to and during the event
  • Work with Fira de Barcelona to ensure sufficient sanitizing products throughout all venues and implement other activity in line with recommendations from our city partners
  • Support exhibitors who may not be able to travel to MWC Barcelona (via GSMA account managers or the Customer Care Team).

The GSMA confirmed that there have been no registration impacts on MWC Barcelona thus far and further updates will be issued as advice develops. However, GSMA strongly urges exhibitors and attendees to implement appropriate guidelines and protocols as suggested by the WHO and other health authorities to contain and mitigate against any further spread of the virus.

Currently, the WHO has decided not to declare a global public health emergency, saying it was still too early for such a move and has advised that, ‘measures to limit the risk of exportation or importation of the disease should be implemented, without unnecessary restrictions of international traffic’.