Swiss govt bans large gatherings over virus fears.

Islamabad: The Swiss government decided on Friday to ban large events expected to draw more than 1,000 people in a drive to curb the new coronavirus epidemic, prompting cancellation of the Geneva car show and grumbling from businesses watching demand vanish.

It did not -- at least for now -- apply to train stations or shopping malls, where people have only fleeting contact.

Officials from the Palexpo venue, forced to cancel a major 10-day car show starting next week, said they understood the move but that it could cost the local economy up to 250 million Swiss francs ($256 million) in lost business.

"The economic impact for the city and region is tremendous," said Lars Wagner, general manager of the luxury Hotel Beau-Rivage Genve.

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"Not only does this impact hotels, but also auxiliary revenues such as hotel restaurant bookings, cocktail and catering events, and other revenues."

As cancellations from guests started rolling in, another Geneva hotelier called the situation "a nightmare".

The Swiss government declared a "special situation" under the country's Epidemics Act, enabling it to order measures that are normally the responsibility of the regional cantons.

"Large-scale events involving more than 1,000 people are to be banned. The...