Apple, Netflix pull out of South by Southwest pageant amid

(Reuters) – Apple Inc and Netflix Inc mentioned they have been pulling out of the South by Southwest music and tech pageant to be held later this month, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The U.S. loss of life toll from coronavirus infections rose to 11 on Wednesday and California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency amid the nation’s largest outbreak.

Fb Inc had mentioned earlier this week it might not take part within the pageant.

Representatives of the occasion didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Organizers of the South by Southwest music and tech pageant, set to be held in Austin, Texas, had mentioned final month the occasion would proceed as deliberate regardless of “a handful” of cancellations associated to the virus.

The outbreak has disrupted different tech conferences and gatherings, together with the Cell World Congress in Barcelona and Google’s annual developer occasion, Google I/O. Firms have additionally modified their work and journey plans.

IBM mentioned on Wednesday its developer convention ‘IBM Suppose 2020’ could be an internet occasion and happen from Might 5-7.

The corporate mentioned it has issued new journey restrictions via the top of March.

(Reporting by Rama Venkat and Bharath Manjesh in Bengaluru and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Modifying by Maju Samuel and Vinay Dwivedi)