A massive business awards event scheduled for next week has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce was due to have its annual dinner and awards next Thursday - but the organisation has now postponed the event unil the autumn.
Some 1,400 people were due to attend the event at the ICC in Birmingham.
Chief executive Paul Faulkner said: “We have been monitoring the developing coronavirus situation on a daily basis and our top priority remains the safety and wellbeing of our guests, suppliers, employees and their families.
“The annual dinner and awards is the biggest event of its kind in the West Midlands. Given the size and scale of the dinner, with 1,400 people due to attend, the decision has been taken to postpone the event.
“Tickets have already been issued and will remain valid for the new date, which will be confirmed as soon as possible."
The Chamber has also been working to support businesses hit by the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak.
It surveyed businesses from February 17 to March 9 on the impact the outbreak was already having on them. Even by then, 23% of those polled reported supplier disruption and 22% reported "cancelled appointments, events or trade shows".
