European health chiefs today greeted each other with elbow bumps and by placing their hands on their heart today instead of the traditional handshake, as coronavirus fears continue to rise across the continent.

Ministers from Croatia, France, Greece and Cyprus took precautions by raising their elbows instead of shaking hands at an emergency meeting in Brussels to try and contain the escalating crisis.

Almost 6,000 cases and 160 deaths have been confirmed across Europe, with Slovenia, Hungary and Poland becoming the latest countries to detect their first cases of the deadly coronavirus.

In the UK, thousands of Freemasons have been told to avoid their so-called 'special handshakes' over fears that the mysterious practice could leave elderly members at risk of catching the deadly COVID-2019.

It comes after US Vice President Mike Pence yesterday bumped elbows with Washington State Governor Jay Inslee and other top state officials, in a meeting to discuss the state's efforts to combat the fast-spreading coronavirus.

European health chiefs greeted each other with elbow bumps at an emergency meeting being held in Brussels today. Pictured, Croatian Health Minister Vili Beros, right, bumps elbows to say hello to French Health Minister Olivier Veran

Vice President Mike Pence (center) greets Washington State Governor Jay Inslee (left) with an elbow bump after arriving on Air Force Two in Tacoma on Thursday

US Vice President Mike Pence gestures with Washington State Governor Jay Inslee during a press conference yesterday as health officials avoid traditional handshakes

European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides, center, and European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic, right, put their hands over their hearts in a gesture of hello to German Health Minister Jens Spahn during an extraordinary meeting of EU health ministers

Greek Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias, left, bumps elbows to say hello to Cypriot Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou as they laugh

The coronavirus has now infected more than 100,000 people around the world and killed more than 3,400 – it has reached most corners of the globe except East Africa

Globally, confirmed cases have topped 100,000 today. More than 3,400 deaths have occurred, mostly in people with underlying health conditions

Fearing a possible shortage in protective equipment, health ministers from the European Union are holding an emergency meeting to try to improve their collective response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

While Italy is the hardest-hit country in Europe, 5,923 confirmed cases have been recorded across the 27-nation bloc.

Globally, confirmed cases have topped 100,000 today. More than 3,400 deaths have occurred, mostly in people with underlying health conditions.

The epidemic has been spreading at a quicker pace over the past two weeks, leading the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) to raise the risk of coronavirus infection from moderate to high.

The last time EU health ministers met, on Feb 13, no death had been reported in Europe.

According to the latest figures released by the ECDC, 112 people have now died from the virus on the continent.

'Today is about solidarity, preparedness, and about coordination,' said Stella Kyriakides, the European Commissioner for health.

As health officials gathered at EU headquarters today, they took advice to minimise close contact with each other and elbow bump instead of hand shake.

The handshake is becoming a taboo worldwide for greeting among workers, as employees and clients fear the spread of coronavirus in the workplace.

France and Italy recommended last week that people do not shake hands or kiss each other, while Switzerland has said its residents should consider dropping the everyday greeting of kissing each other on the cheek.

Yesterday, Vice President Mike Pence gave elbows with Washington State Governor Jay Inslee on the tarmac after Air Force Two landed in Tacoma.

Instead of shaking his hand, Inslee put out his elbow. The vice president then reciprocated and gave Inslee an elbow bump.

The vice president gave elbow bumps to other top state officials in Washington after arriving to discuss efforts to combat the fast-spreading coronavirus in the US.

Boris Johnson however, appears to be unfazed by the risk of catching coronavirus with handshakes, admitting on Tuesday: 'I can tell you, I'm shaking hands continuously.

'I was at a hospital the other night, where I think there were actually a few coronavirus patients, and I shook hands with everybody, you'll be pleased to know, and I continue to shake hands.'

In other developments, the United Grand Lodge of England, an organisation for Freemasonry, wrote to members to advise against handshakes, The Telegraph reports.

Fearing a possible shortage in protective equipment, health ministers from the European Union are holding an emergency meeting to try to improve their collective response

As mass panic grips the UK, anxious Brits have taken to stockpiling hand sanitiser

A sign on the empty shelves in Asda in Chandler's Ford, Southampton

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said today the government is 'confident' the UK will not run out of food supplies after Britons rush to supermarkets for staples. Pictured, empty shelves in Southampton

Many European countries agree that the European Commission should speed up the joint procurement process it launched two weeks ago that allows the EU to buy urgent medical supplies for its members. Pictured, production of hydroalcoholic gel in France

The body deem the ban a necessity because many Freemasons were in their seventies and eighties and therefore at greater risk of catching COVID-19 and death.

WHAT ARE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES DOING TO TRY AND STOP CORONAVIRUS SPREADING? Italy, which is battling its own crisis with more than 3,000 people infected and 107 dead, has urged residents to avoid kissing and has closed all its schools for a fortnight. The government has put 11 towns into total lockdown and is also considering closing cinemas and theatres and banning large public events, The Guardian reported. People over the age of 75 have been told to stay at home to avoid getting ill. In France, a country with around 285 infections, people have been advised to stop using the traditional cheek kiss greeting, la bise, and officials are urging citizens to wash their hands regularly. The government has commandeered the entire country's supply of face masks so it can make sure there are enough for medical workers and coronavirus patients. Supermarket shelves are reportedly being stripped bare in Germany, where the government advises that households always keep at least 10 days' worth of supplies in case of a disaster. The outbreak in Germany has worsened in recent days and there are now at least 349 people confirmed to have the infection – more than any county in the Far East except China or South Korea. And in Spain, where there have been 222 cases, officials have advised that crowds be banned from some international sports matches and that large events be cancelled. Advertisement

Ceremonies typically have a lot of close skin-to-skin contact during secret initiation ceremonies using medieval practises.

Dr David Staples, the Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England, said: 'We take a lot of the allegory in our ceremonies from medieval stonemasons.

'They can be sort of like a West End play. People are led around the lodge by their shoulders, or by their hands.

'We do have handshakes, although they never leave the ceremony itself. For the moment, those elements of our ceremonies are on hold.'

The meeting in Brussels comes amid fears that the outbreak could lead to drug shortages because India limited the export of certain medicines due to the coronavirus and drug ingredient makers in China remain shut.

Europe largely relies on China and India for common drugs and protective equipment such as face masks.

Many European countries agree that the European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, should speed up the joint procurement process it launched two weeks ago that allows the EU to buy urgent medical supplies for its members.

As contagion fears have led to shortages of face masks and sanitising hand gels, French President Emmanuel Macron said this week the government is requisitioning all current and future stocks of protective masks.

'We don't have enough protective masks,' said Czech health minister Adam Vojtech as he joined the meeting.

'The problem is that the demand is much higher than the supply. A third of the world's production of drugs is located in China and also in India, which as far as I know also has stopped exports of drugs recently.'

Croatian Health Minister Vili Beros said the meeting should also help member states to better coordinate measures taken at national level that differ from one country to the other.

Italy, for instance, has closed all schools and universities and barred fans from all sporting events for the next few weeks.

In neighbouring France, the Paris-Nice bike race will go ahead as planned this weekend, while soccer games continue to be played in Belgium.

'We should emphasize the importance of communication between member states and toward the public,' Mr Beros said. 'That can help us fight the disease.'

Asked about the bloc's dependence on medical chains in China and India, Danish health minister Magnus Heunicke said the EU should consider building a new strategy in the long term.

But 'right now, we are focusing on making sure we have the medicine we need.'

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) have said there are currently no medicine shortages in the UK and the 'we have stockpiles of generic drugs like paracetamol in the event of any supply issues.'

A further 47 coronavirus cases have been diagnosed in the UK today – 36 in England and 11 in Scotland – bringing the total to 163 from just 51 on Wednesday

But as mass panic grips the nation, anxious Brits have taken to stockpiling hand sanitiser and food supplies.

The UK has already recorded 163 cases and officials are bracing themselves for a surge in cases.

The first death of COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus, was confirmed on UK soil last night - believed to be a woman in her 70s from Berkshire with underlying health conditions. Last month a Briton died from the virus after being infected on a cruise ship in Japan.

In other coronavirus developments:

Scientists have predicted up to 15million people could die and the global economy may take a $2.3TRILLION hit from the coronavirus;

World Health Organization and Chinese scientists published statistics showing men are 65 per cent more likely than women to die from coronavirus;

The Vatican reported its first case of the coronavirus, days after Pope Francis tested negative for the deadly infection which has infected 98,000 people worldwide.

The Tokyo Olympics could be held in empty stadiums because of coronavirus fears in one scenario reportedly being discussed by health officials.

Retailers in the UK started to disinfect customers entering their stores as fears around the coronavirus continue to escalate;

Health Secretary Matt Hancock faced demands to say how the government plans to stop coronavirus panic buying – as members of the public told him it is a real problem;

Britons who feel ill after returning home from any part of Italy now told to self-isolate for two weeks to stop the spread of coronavirus, in a dramatic ramping up of Government advice;

More than 100 Britons are stranded on board a cruise ship off the coast of California where medics are testing passengers for coronavirus;

More than 1,200 Canary Wharf workers were evacuated amid coronavirus fears and hedge fund staff banned from using the Tube;

A Coronation Street star placed themselves in self-isolation for two weeks after returning from a holiday abroad due to fears over coronavirus.

An LBC radio producer photographed a passenger on the London Underground 'protecting' themselves from coronavirus by hiding underneath a quilt

A commuter on the London Underground wears a gas mask on Friday morning as the capital was gripped by coronavirus fears after the UK's first death

A passenger wears a face mask while riding the London Underground yesterday as infections rapidly approached triple digits in the UK

Figures from the World Health Organization and Chinese scientists has revealed that 1.7 per cent of woman who catch the virus will die compared to 2.8 per cent of men (pictured, a graphic showing those most likely at risk from the virus)