European Union Parliament speaker, David Sassoli today said that he has gone into self-isolation in his Brussels residence for two weeks after visiting his virus-struck native Italy.

In a statement, Sassoli said that his decision was a precaution following the Italian government’s announcement of locking down the country to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. He said that COVID-19 requires responsibility and prudence from everybody. His aides however, said there was no indication that he was infected.

The virus has been detected among a handful of EU staff, including at the European Council and the European Defence Agency. NATO headquarters, located on the outskirts of Brussels, has also reported its first confirmed case