CES 2022 \u00a0continues to lose major exhibitors as the omicron variant creates a spike in coronavirus infections. On Friday, Microsoft confirmed that it will no \u2026<\/b>
\nCES 2022 continues to lose major exhibitors as the omicron variant creates a spike in coronavirus infections. On Friday, Microsoft confirmed that it will no longer appear in person at the Las Vegas tech show, which starts Jan.5. Microsoft joins a growing list of companies switching to virtual-only appearances that already includes T-Mobile, Google, Intel, Lenovo, TikTok and Meta. \u00ab\u00a0The health and well-being of our employees is our ultimate priority. After reviewing the latest data on the rapidly evolving COVID environment, Microsoft has decided not to participate in-person at CES 2022,\u00a0\u00bb Microsoft said in a statement emailed late Friday. The company said it will join the show virtually. Despite the lengthening list of departing exhibitors, the Consumer Technology Association, which runs CES, said Thursday that additional exhibitors have signed up for physical space on the show floor. \u00ab\u00a0While we recently received 42 exhibitor cancellations (less than 7% of our exhibit floor),\u00a0\u00bb the CTA said, \u00ab\u00a0since last Friday we’ve added 60 new exhibitors for our in person event.\u00a0\u00bb Though higher-profile companies are announcing withdrawals, the CTA emphasized that the show floor also plays host to small and medium-size companies. The rapid spread of the omicron variant and rise in COVID-19 cases are making many people uneasy. On Dec.20, the US surpassed 291,000 new daily cases — the highest number since the pandemic peak on Jan.8,2021, when the US crossed 294,000 new daily cases, according to the CDC. The CTA said that it believes the event can go on due to vaccination and masking requirements, the availability of COVID tests for attendees, social distancing measures and lower attendance. CES 2022 is scheduled to take place virtually and in person from Jan.5 to 8, with press day on Jan.4. But an increasing number of companies recently decided to go digital-only. The wave seemed to start Tuesday when T-Mobile announced that CEO Mike Sievert was no longer scheduled to deliver a keynote presentation either in person or virtually and that the company planned to \u00ab\u00a0significantly limit\u00a0\u00bb its physical presence at the show. Here is the growing list of companies that have changed their minds about attending CES: The decisions follow the US reaching the grim milestone of 800,000 COVID-19 deaths earlier this month, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. Several companies will still host press conferences the day before the show starts, including some that no longer plan to have a physical presence at the tech show. CNET will livestream these on our main YouTube page and on our CNET Highlights YouTube page as part of our CES 2022 coverage. The current schedule for press day follows. CES 2022 press day, Jan.4 (all times are Pacific) 7 a.m.: AMD and TCL 8 a.m. LG Electronics and Nvidia 9 a.m.: Hisense 10 a.m.: Intel 11 a.m.: Qualcomm 12 p.m.: John Deere 1 p.m.: Canon 2 p.m.: Ottonomy 3 p.m.: Hyundai 5 p.m.: Sony 6:30 p.m.: Samsung<\/p>\n