Bloomberg is reporting this morning that the authorities in Switzerland have now decided to ban public and private gatherings with more than 1,000 people until 15th March at the earliest - following a similar policy by the neighbouring German government. This relatively small number of people is likely to make the Geneva Motor Show impossible to stage - although no official notification from the show has been forthcoming.

Dozens of new-car launches and reveals are planned for the event, which was due to open with its traditional press days on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.