Arab League summit suspended amid corona fear

The Arab League summit was suspended because of fears of the spread of the new coronavirus, the group’s secretary-general said Saturday.

The summit planned for the end of March in Algeria may be held before the end of June, Ahmed Abul Gheit said during a news conference alongside Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Gheit said the exact date would be determined in coordination with Algeria as the host country.

The virus known as COVID-19 has spread to more than 45 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Singapore, France, Russia, Spain and India.

China, where the virus originated, is the worst-hit with 2,837 deaths reported.

The World Health Organization, which already declared the outbreak an international health emergency, raised the global coronavirus alert level Friday from high to "very high."