[Concerns over the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak have postponed GDC and other community and developer events, leading to calls that E3, scheduled for June, may also be canceled. the Entertainment Software Association said earlier this week that it is "moving full speed ahead" with plans for the show despite the concerns. [But today, the city of Los Angeles declared a state of emergency, and the ESA issued an updated statement saying it is continuing to monitor the situation.

"The health and safety of our attendees, exhibitors, partners and staff is our top priority, and ESA is monitoring and assessing the situation daily as we continue to plan for a safe and successful E3 Show, June 9-11, 2020," ESA said.

"Our E3 team and partners continue to monitor Covid-19 through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). We are actively evaluating the latest information and will continue to develop measures to further reduce health risks at the show."

The Los Angeles Coronavirus website states that there are only a few confirmed cases in the area, and the ESA, like Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, said of the declaration of a regional state of emergency, "The City and County are committed to preparing for Covid-19 in the future. If additional funds are needed, they may qualify." The city currently emphasizes "healthy hygiene habits," including regularly washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and not touching your face with unwashed hands, and also recommends having "extra food, water, medicine, and an emergency kit," which, given the area's susceptibility to earthquakes, is a It would be a good idea anyway, given the region's susceptibility to earthquakes.

E3 is still three months away and there is plenty of time for things to change, but this statement bears a strong resemblance to the one the GDC issued prior to its decision to pull the plug. If the coronavirus continues unabated through April and May, ESA will likely have to make the same decision.

We follow industry-related updates on coronaviruses; for more information on Covid-19 coronavirus, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control for North American updates, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, or the World Health Organization.