Coronavirus Scare Hits India-EU Summit: PM Modi Cancels Brussels Visit After Rise In Covid-19 Cases

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told media that it has been decided that delegates from the respective countries should not travel in each other’s countries owing to the recent Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

India and EU decided to reschedule Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Brussels. (File Photo/ AFP)

New Delhi: On the backdrop of worldwide spread of the deadly Coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Belgium’s capital Brussels for the India-EU Summit has been rescheduled, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed during its daily briefing on Thursday. Replying to the queries about the India-EU summit, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told media that it has been decided that delegates from the respective countries should not travel in each other’s countries owing to the recent Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

" As far as India-EU Summit is concerned which PM Modi had to attend, the health authorities of both the countries suggested that travelling must not take place at present. So, it has been decided that Summit will be rescheduled on a mutually convenient date "

-Raveesh Kumar, MEA Spokesperson

"The decision has been taken in the spirit of close cooperation between the EU & India who share same concerns and commitment to global health and hope that the outbreak is contained soon," he added.' Rescheduling of PM Modi's visit to Belgium comes a day after at least two staff working for the European Union administration in tested positive for the novel Coronavirus and are receiving treatment. ALSO WATCH | Coronavirus outbreak: PM Modi's Cancels India-EU Summit Prior to this, PM Modi had on Wednesday announced that he would not participate in any Holi Milan programmes in the view of the outbreak. "Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Hence, this year, I have decided not to participate in any Holi Milan programme," PM had tweeted yesterday.

Experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Hence, this year I have decided not to participate in any Holi Milan programme.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 4, 2020

As of yet, at least 30 cases of Coronavirus have been officially confirmed in India. Though no deaths have been reported so far, but the number of positive cases are likely to increase in the days to come. The figures took a leap after a group of 15 Italian tourists tested positive for the disease. Another case was confirmed today. In Europe, Italy has witnessed most positive cases of the disease so far. Several Indians who tested positive for the virus had contracted it while visiting Italy as tourists. The preventive measure is part of a new decree issued by the Italian government hoping to prevent to spread the virus which has caused 3,089 infected cases and 107 fatalities in the country. The overall death toll in China due to the novel Coronavirus increased to 3,012 with a total of 80,409 confirmed cases on Thursday, even as the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak in the mainland, has continued strict measures in an effort to curb the virus from spreading any further.