EU countries may suspend Schengen over coronavirus

Deputy chief spokesperson for the European Commission, Dana Spinant, said EU countries have the right, under the Schengen Code, to suspend free movement of people and "resume temporary border control due to threats to public health as a result of the coronavirus outbreak."

Spinant said: "However, for the European Commission, any such action should be based on scientific assessments and should be coordinated at the EU level."

The death toll from coronavirus in China has exceeded 2,660 people. Other countries also reported cases of infection and fatalities, with the situation exacerbated in Iran, where 15 people have already died from the disease.