European Union ministers will discuss possible responses to the coronavirus outbreak in extraordinary meetings this week, a sign of growing concern over the epidemic's spread to most EU countries.
The spread of the virus raises questions over the EU economy and management of the European open-border Schengen area as well as causing health concerns.
Such a degree of activity in the EU has not been seen in Europe's 2015-16 migration crisis and the 2009-12 financial turmoil in which several EU states were bailed out.