Many Newcastle United fans have been reacting on social media, after Steve Bruce revealed that players have been banned from shaking hands with each other at the club’s training ground due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Bruce spoke of what measures have been put in place amid the outbreak, which World Health Organization head Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus has suggested has “pandemic potential” after more cases were reported outside of China.
Iran and Italy have become major centres of infection after the virus first emerged in China’s Hubei province, where nearly 2,800 people have died.
There are said to be more than 80,000 infected across nearly 50 countries, leading to a vast array of sporting events either being cancelled or postponed.
Five Serie A fixtures are due to be played behind closed doors this weekend due to coronavirus, including Juventus’ top-of-the-table clash with title-rivals Inter Milan.
Inter’s Europa League Round of 32 match at home to Ludogorets on Thursday night was also played behind closed doors at the San Siro, though measures as severe as those are yet to reach the Premier League.
Bruce has moved to try and put measures in place at Newcastle’s training ground to avoid an outbreak in the first-team, with players no longer allowed to shake hands.
Have the club made the right decision?
Yes
No
“There is a ritual here where everybody shakes hand,” Bruce explained at his pre-Burnley press conference, via quotes by the Chronicle. “We have stopped that. We have a superb doctor here and he advised that.
“Let’s hope we can stop it in this country. If that is how it has to be, so be it. In confined areas you have to be careful, we are mindful of it.”
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Bruce’s comments…
Just cancel the season now. I’m sure Liverpool fans will understand. https://t.co/X4bPxDd2eP
— Geordie X9 fbft (@GeordieX9) February 28, 2020
Banned celebrating goals together……..
— Gordon Carr (@CarrsyToon) February 28, 2020
Must if stopped them passing to each other aswel this season 😩😩😩
— Ali Henderson (@MrAliHenderson) February 28, 2020
They agreed to stop passing to each other months ago, so this is the logical next step
— james williams (@jwilliams1500) February 28, 2020
Is the continental Europe double cheek kiss still ok?
— Micky Clarke (@michaelC309) February 28, 2020
Was going to ask about them jumping all over each other when they score and the impact of that but realised Coronavirus will have long been cured before that next happens!!! #nufc https://t.co/hVtmnU96l3
— Alan (@alsandal39) February 28, 2020
Wat about pre match n mascots..
— YoungY (@myoungy2805) February 28, 2020
Bit overkill that isn’t it
— Sam Zalaiskalns (@samzala93) February 28, 2020
No shaking hands in the bath lads
— wilf (@wilf_toon) February 28, 2020
So it’s alright to shake hands with opposition players before games, just not ya mates. Bit stupid really.
— David (@Ted246_) February 28, 2020
Have they banned them from passing to each other too?
— Sam Turner (@STurnerTipster) February 28, 2020
What a club. https://t.co/yh6uftZZps
— Tom Bodell (@TBBodell) February 28, 2020
In other Newcastle United news, the club continue to chase a 25y/o attacker on course to set a new club-record.