An expert doctor admits he is not optimistic about the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai as the coronavirus outbreak continues.
Latest figures put the number of cases in the country at over 7000 with 170 deaths confirmed from the illness which is thought to have originated in Wuhan and has now spread to every province in China.
On Wednesday, the FIA confirmed: “We are closely monitoring the evolving situation with relevant authorities and its Member Clubs, under the direction of FIA Medical Commission President, Professor Gérard Saillant.
“The FIA will evaluate the calendar of its forthcoming races and, if necessary, take any action required to help protect the global motorsport community and the wider public,” a statement added.
Already several international sporting events have been impacted, including the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Nanjing which has been postponed a year until March 2021.
Currently, two major motorsport events are scheduled to take place in China, the first is a Formula E race in Sanya on March 21 followed by the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Shanghai on the weekend of April 17-19.
In Shanghai, a total of 66 cases of the coronavirus has been confirmed with one death and two others in a critical condition.
While it may seem as if there is still some time for a decision to be made, Dr Sergio Brusin, a senior expert at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in Stockholm, told The Guardian doubts the situation will improve soon.
“The virus is still spreading, there is no doubt about it,” he said.
“There has been a huge increase in cases in China and more countries importing cases. We are seeing human to human transmission outside the area of Wuhan that can indicate that it will spread further.
“It is not going to be easy,” he added. “We are in for the long run. It is not something that is going to disappear next week, it will be quite a lot of work to contain.
“What happens between now and April is extremely difficult to predict but if the infection keeps on spreading at this pace I would not be optimistic at having an F1 ticket in my pocket.”