David Sassoli, EU Parliament’s President has decided to put himself into quarantine, following the Italian government’s emergency measures to place entire Italy on lockdown to stem spread of COVID-19.

Sassoli, who was in Italy last weekend, decided to self-isolate and work from home for two weeks, as a precautionary measure and as foreseen by the health protocol.

“Parliament will continue to work to exercise its duties. No virus can block democracy,” said Sassoli in a statement, stressing that the legislative and budgetary work, as well as the internal bodies of the Parliament have to continue functioning.

The European Parliament is increasing its measures to protect public health, after the number of COVID-19 outbreak across the EU27 bloc increased dramatically.

So far, the virus has hit the EU institutions, with the European Council, Commission, Frontex and European Defence Agency, as well as NATO HQ in Brussels, confirming their first cases of Coronavirus.