Coronavirus effect: Sports Minister advises country's athletes to not shake hands with people

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday warned country's athletes to be extra cautious in wake of dely coronavirus outbreak, saying y should avoid shaking hands and close contact while mingling with people.

"I vise our sportspersons and common citizens also to be careful while mingling with various people. For sometime, it's absolutely t necessary to shake hands or hug," Rijiju tweeted.

"We can man with our tritional Namaste, Salaam, Jai Hind and many local words for greetings!"

government h said that health of athletes must take precedence as it vised National Sports Federations (NSFs) to exercise caution while planning foreign competitions and training stints in view of coronavirus outbreak.

In India, 29 positive cases have been reported so far, including 16 Italian tourists. World over, virus has claimed over 3,000 lives besides infecting more than 90,000 people.

In an visory issued by Sports Authority of India (SAI) to all NSFs on Wednesday, it said athletes' health comes first.

"... In light of outbreak of Coroavirus in several countries, including some reported cases in India, Government has vised all National Sports Federations to exercise caution while planning foreign competitions and training for teams and individual athletes," SAI said in visory.

extraordinary situation has forced eir cancellation or postponement of many sporting events across world in Olympic year and SAI said while it understands importance of year, it also wants federations to follow World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

While India is scheduled to host a shooting World Cup from March 15, a FIBA 3x3 basketball Olympic qualifying tournament was on Wednesday postponed owing to dely disease that has affected many countries.