Rome Formula E round postponed due to coronavirus fears

The April 4 event was due to be the next round of the championship, but now becomes the second FE event to be halted by the virus - the Sanya E-Prix in China was also officially postponed last month.

The coronavirus has been declared by the World Health Organisation as a public health emergency and is thought be responsible for almost 3500 deaths, with close to 100,000 cases confirmed worldwide.

On Wednesday, the Italian government announced that all sporting events were to take place behind closed doors until April 3 to contain the spread.

Although the cut-off is one day before the original Rome date, the normal FE weekend timetable features a shakedown session the day prior to the race.

A statement issued by FE read: "As a consequence of the ongoing health emergency in Italy and according to the provisions set out in the ministerial decree concerning measures to counteract and contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country - which includes sporting events with large crowds and spectators in close proximity - it will no longer be possible to stage the Rome E-Prix on April 4, 2020.

"Formula E, in agreement with the relevant authorities in Rome, EUR S.p.A and together with the FIA and Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI), will work closely with championship partners and stakeholders in order to assess and review alternative options to postpone the Rome E-Prix to a later date once restrictions have been lifted.

"All ticket holders will be contacted through the appropriate channels in the coming days."

Italy is the worst-hit country in Europe and has postponed both the men's and women's Six Nations matches with England - and has most notably cancelled the Rome marathon.

The announcement from FE raises further doubt for the remainder of the 2019-20 calendar.

Thought to be most at risk are the successive inaugural Seoul (South Korea, May 3) and Jakarta (Indonesia, 6 June) events given their proximity to China, where the virus originated.

However, Autosport understands that FE will keep the April 4 date available for a race to be held in an alternative location to Rome.

One possibility is for the series to travel to Valencia, where it conducts pre-season testing.

Some of the FE freight is already located at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo venue, making this a viable substitute.

Other major motorsport events to be impacted so far include the cancelled MotoGP season opener in Qatar - with the Thailand race postponed by the government - and the delayed Super Formula first round at Suzuka.

Although the Australian Grand Prix is set to go ahead next weekend, organisers of the Bahrain Formula 1 event have halted tickets sales while the coronavirus situation is monitored.