ZCZC
BFF-24
HEALTH-VIRUS-EU-PARLIAMENT
European Parliament speaker self-isolates after Italy visit
BRUSSELS, March 10, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – European Parliament speaker David
Sassoli said Tuesday he had gone into self-isolation in his Brussels
residence for two weeks after visiting his virus-struck native Italy.
Sassoli, 63, said in a statement his decision was a “precaution” following
the Italian government’s announcement it was locking down all of the country
to try to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
“COVID-19 requires responsibility and prudence from everybody,” he said.
There was no indication he was infected. His aides said he had visited
Rome last week — when the capital was not yet under what were then regional
lock-down measures — and was not showing any COVID-19 symptoms.
The virus has been detected among a handful of EU staff, including at the
European Council and the European Defence Agency. NATO headquarters, located
on the outskirts of Brussels, has also reported its first confirmed case.
The European Parliament was on Tuesday holding a truncated plenary session
in Brussels instead of the usual site in the French city of Strasbourg
because of worries over the new coronavirus. Italy is the hardest-hit country
in the European Union. On Monday the government in Rome ordered unprecedented
quarantine measures for the entire population of 60 million, making it the
first country to impose such a step nationwide.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1720HRS