The Computex electronics trade show has been delayed until September due to the coronavirus outbreak. The annual event, which features processor announcements and new laptop designs, was originally scheduled for June 2-6 in Taipei, Taiwan. But on Tuesday, Computex organizers pushed the show back another four months to Sept. 28-30, citing the health and safety of visitors and exhibitors.

The show typically offers a mid-year preview into upcoming PC hardware from the likes of AMD, Intel, Acer, Asus and Microsoft. However, the coronavirus has prompted the cancellation of trade shows left and right, forcing vendors to make their announcements online. 

In the case of Computex, the show’s sponsors are hoping the pandemic will have subsided by late September, opening the door for international travel to resume. “According to McKinsey’s latest epidemic report, the epidemic in China and East Asia will be controlled at the beginning of the second quarter, and the epidemic situation in Europe and the United States will slow down in June,” Computex’s main organizer, TAITRA, said in today’s announcement. 

So far, Taiwan has also reported relatively few coronavirus cases, at only 215. Nevertheless, the rescheduled Computex event will be smaller in scale. According to TAITRA, the show will only span one convention hall in Taipei; it normally takes up several. It’ll also primarily focus on 5G, communication, smart solutions and gaming, with TAITRA making no mention of PCs. 

Last year, the event attracted more than 42,000 international buyers, seeking to source parts and technology from Computex exhibitors. So the postponement may be a big loss for Taiwan and the local manufacturing industry. In response, TAITRA plans to organize online procurement meetings for buyers and exhibitors.