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SXSW organizers say coronavirus spread isn't affecting festival preparations

On Tuesday, the CDC said the spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. is not a question of "if" but "when."

AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: Austin and Travis County leaders announced on March 6 that SXSW has been canceled.

Organizers said the coronavirus won't change how Austin is preparing for this year's SXSW festival, which kicks off in just over two weeks.

Staff at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport said the CDC doesn't think Austin's airport needs more screenings.

And SXSW organizers told KVUE it's business as usual for them. They said they have had some festival attendees from China cancel their plans, but that won't affect the festival as a whole.

On Tuesday, the CDC said the spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. is not a question of "if" but "when." 

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This week, China reported 508 new cases and another 71 deaths, bringing mainland China's totals to more than 77,600 cases and more than 2,600 deaths.

After China, South Korea has the second-most cases of the virus, with at least 977. Health workers continue to find batches in the southeastern city of Daegu and nearby areas, where panic has brought towns to a standstill. On Tuesday, the University of Texas at Austin suspended undergraduate student travel to South Korea amid the outbreak.

Fear of the global spread of the virus is even affecting the U.S. stock market. On Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average sank by 1,031 points.

WATCH: University of Texas at Austin researchers developing coronavirus vaccine

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