Geneva Motor Show organizers urge coronavirus checks

UPDATE: The Geneva Motor Show has been canceled after the Swiss government banned large gatherings in an attempt to curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Here is the latest version of events. Previous story appears below.

FRANKFURT — Geneva Motor Show organizers on Tuesday pressed exhibitors from coronavirus-infected areas to check staff for symptoms before arriving in Switzerland and pledged to step up cleaning and disinfection at the congress center.

Geneva is set to host the show next week but restrictions on travel have caused other fairs including the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Frankfurt’s Light + Building fair and the Beijing Auto Show to be postponed or canceled.

“In the context of the coronavirus epidemic afflicting China, Palexpo SA is carefully observing the situation and its possible implications,” the Geneva exhibition center said.