Blizzard has announced that it will cancel Overwatch League matches in China in February and March, writing in a statement posted on Twitter that the company made the move to "protect the health and safety of players." This alludes to the new coronavirus of 2019, which has already caused 170 deaths, according to The Guardian.

"To protect the health and safety of our players, fans and staff, we have decided to cancel our February and March matches in China," the statement reads.

"We hope all of our fans have a safe and happy Chinese New Year and we are very much looking forward to playing Overwatch League matches in China later this season.

"We will provide more details on when and where the matches will be played at a later date.

This follows a similar move earlier this week by the League of Legends Pro League in China. The spread of the virus, which is believed to have originated in Hubei Province, has led Chinese authorities to impose strict travel restrictions to surrounding areas, including suspending air and rail service.