Coronavirus has played a huge role in the Formula E calendar with two races being called off and several placed in doubt due to the outbreak.
Formula E has been forced to cancel the Sanya E-Prix in China and the Italian E-Prix in Rome due to the virus, but the series is also facing problems with Paris, Seoul and Jakarta.
To combat the lost races, FE has suggested the possibility of hosting a doubleheader at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia on the 4th and 5th of April, which was the same weekend as the Rome E-Prix.
But the levels of coronavirus in Spain over the past 24 hours have more than double from around 458 cases on Sunday to 999 on Monday (March 9th), with 25 people being reported to have died from virus according to BBC News.
The Spanish health ministry has locked in an emergency meeting with the Madrid regional government to try and get to the bottom of why there’s been a sudden spike in cases.
In addition, in a report by Reuters, Spain’s first death of coronavirus came in the Valencia region, as a man died on February 13th.
Also, sporting events in Valencia are being held behind closed doors, including Valencia’s match against Italian side Atalanta which is being held on March 10th. Therefore, even if Formula E were to race in Valencia, it is unlikely that any fans would be able to attend to race.
The highest amount of cases of coronavirus in Spain has come from the north of the country, the city of Vitoria in northern Spain ordered a shutdown of all schools for 15 days to try to contain the outbreak. Also, officials in Madrid today confirmed an extra 200 cases of coronavirus from Sunday to Monday.
Although the area of most affected by the virus is not close to Valencia, the way the virus has spread over the past 24 hours is not encouraging signs for Formula E who are trying to prepare a race there is a months time.
Elsewhere, France has confirmed over 1,000 cases of coronavirus and 19 people have died as a result of the virus according to BBC News. The country has announced that events with over a 1,000 people in attendance will be cancelled, which leaves the E-Prix in Paris in doubt, which is due to be held on the 18th April.
Furthermore, Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 games have been postponed due to the outbreak, as well as France’s six nations game with Ireland that was due to take place in Paris.
South Korea’s Health Minister is hopeful that they have seen the worst of the virus, There were more than 7,300 cases of coronavirus in the country, killing more than 50 people.