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Refresh for updates … As the coronavirus continues to spread, now affecting nearly 60 countries spanning six continents, more events are being canceled or postponed amid travel restrictions and increasing health warnings. As of Friday, the virus had sickened more than 83,000 people worldwide — including 62 people across six states, per the CDC — and at least 2,800 have died.
A World Health Organization official said Friday: “We are on the highest level of alert or highest level of risk assessment in terms of spread and in terms of impact …. Wake up. Get ready. This virus may be on its way and you need to be ready.”
Here is a list of entertainment-related disruptions tied to Covid-19 fears. We will update it as more information becomes available.
CONCERTS
BTS: Canceled April dates in its hometown of Seoul, South Korea, as have other K-pop groups NCT, GOT7 and Winner
Green Day: Postponed March dates in Asia (Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong) for its current Hella Mega Tour
Korea Times Music Festival: April 25 date at the Hollywood Bowl for annual event has been postponed
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CONFERENCES
The annual Game Developers Conference, scheduled for March 16-20 in San Francisco, has been postponed, with plans to organize an event this summer
Facebook’s F8 Developers Conference: In-person component set for May 5-6 in San Jose, CA canceled; will focus instead on “locally hosted events, videos and live-streamed content”
Hong Kong Filmart: Asia’s most significant film market was postponed from late March to August 27-29, 2020
The 2020 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona scheduled for February 24-27 was canceled
MOVIE THEATERS
Thousands of cinemas are closed in China, which has roughly 70,000 screens across 10,000 venues. All local film releases scheduled for the lucrative Chinese New Year holiday were pulled by distributors in the territory, the world’s second largest for box office. UME, Wanda, Jinyi, Bona, Emperor and Lumiere chains have all shuttered. Anticipated Hollywood releases likely to be impacted include Disney’s Mulan and Universal’s James Bond debut No Time to Die, the latter of which already has seen its Beijing premiere and press tour canceled
About 50% of cinemas have been closed in Italy, mostly in Milan’s Lombardy region. Some territory release dates have been postponed including for The Invisible Man (Universal) and Onward (Disney). AMC Theatres closed 22 of its 47 theaters in the country for a week beginning February 24
PRODUCTION
Paramount’s Mission: Impossible 7‘s upcoming three-week shooting kickoff in Venice, Italy was postponed after the local government put a stop to all public gatherings
CBS’ The Amazing Race has postponed shooting on its Season 33 edition, which had not been announced but so far had shot in England and Scotland
SPORTS
A decision whether to cancel the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan, set for July 24-August 9 could be made in May, according to top IOC official Dick Pound
Italy’s top pro soccer league Serie A is playing some games in empty stadiums
Formula One has canceled the Chinese Grand Prix, which had been scheduled for April 17-19
THEME PARKS
Shanghai Disney Resort closed Shanghai Disneyland, Disneytown including Walt Disney Grand Theatre and Wishing Star Park, on January 25. Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are closing from February 29-March 15, operator The Oriental Land Co. confirmed
Universal Studios Japan has closed from February 29 to March 15, a re-opening date that could change depending on the situation