Switzerland's government on Friday banned all public and private events involving more than 1,000 people in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus. The ban will run until March 15, necessitating the cancellation of the Geneva International Motor Show, which was scheduled to begin March 5 and was expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees.
The ban comes as governments in jurisdictions around the globe scramble to halt the spread of the virus, which originated in China and has thus far infected more than 82,000 people worldwide, killing more than 2,700. While initially affecting mainly travel to and from China, the virus' spread to other parts of the world could lead to further restrictions. Sabre this week reported industry first-quarter global distribution system bookings to date have dropped in the "mid-teen" percentages as a result of the coronavirus.