Omicron Threat Compells Microsoft to Ditch CES 2022
CES 2022 will see another keynote speaker back out from the physical event. The latest addition to the list is Microsoft. The company has confirmed that it will back out from the event due to the looming threat of the COVID-19 virus. A number of tech companies have pulled back their names from the event citing safety concerns of their employees, staff, and the rest of their entourage.
CES 2022: Microsoft pulls out of the physical event
Microsoft is among the notable names that will miss CES 2022 that is slated to begin from January 5, 2022, in Las Vegas. The decision is final and there are no plans of reversing the same.
The company confirmed their absence through an email statement delivered by Microsoft’s spokesperson. The main reason behind backing out from the event is staff safety from the coronavirus. Although the CES staff promises to leave no stoned unturned in terms of precautionary measures, Microsoft will skip the event.
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Did Microsoft pull out because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Bill Gates, the founder and face of Microsoft for a long time has also announced that he has canceled his holiday plans due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant.
Microsoft has also pulled out from the event due to the same reason – the threat put forward by the new Omicron variant.
As of now, CES 2022 will see a mix of both physical and virtual appearances from a number of popular tech companies.
CES 2022’s dwindling lineup
Apart from Microsoft, Intel has become the latest company to back out from CES 2022, and we predict it will not be the last company either.
Although a lot of companies have vaccinated their employees, attending an event of this magnitude is not advisable.
As of now, it would not be wise to overlook the threat from the Omicron variant as it brings with it a highly infectious disease. Even after two years since the first case was reported, the pandemic has not shown any signs of slowing down. The world has not entirely recovered from the different strains of the virus despite taking many precautions.
CES 2022 aims to offer a different perspective on the way people experienced their pandemic over the past couple of years. However, the threat of Omicron is unfortunate as it coincides with the dates of the event that is scheduled in the second week of January next year.
Microsoft and many other tech companies have put their employees and staff first and decided to give the event a miss.
Will we see more companies pull out from the event in the upcoming days? Is there a chance that the entire event will be called off? What do you think?
Leave your thoughts below and tell us what you think.
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