Coronavirus impact: World leaders ditch handshakes, hugs, and kisses for Indian 'Namaste'

With the havoc of coronavirus, a contagious disease all around, people in common seem to be scared of it. They have a strong reason to be concerned for want of no sure cure. A virus is spread through coming into contact with others, more particularly with air and droplets. An advisory has been issued not to shake hands, embrace, hug or kiss given that each of these greetings, compliments, good wishes is prone to the outbreak of the virus. Here comes into play the 'Namaste' which asks you to maintain a distance of at least a meter and shower someone with your innermost feelings. Hence, a Namaste can never cause a contagion whereas the English greetings or Muslim embracing can.

US President Donald Trump and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar greeted each other in the traditional Indian way of ''namaste'' and bowed to each other at the Oval Office on Thursday while saying they can't afford to shake hands amid coronavirus outbreak.

Amid the growing coronavirus scare, a video of Prince Charles greeting people with an Indian-style "namaste" has gone viral on social media, leaving netizens impressed.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa pose in the position of the customary handshake, which they did not do due to the coronavirus, after addressing the media prior to a working dinner at the Chancellory in Berlin.

Prime Minister of Israel, while addressing his country, urged the people to change their greeting habits and maintain personal hygiene at all times to better fight the deadly virus. Netanyahu had earlier asked Israelis to adopt Indian way of greeting by joining both hands for a 'Namaste'.

Mindful of the coronavirus outbreak, when French President Emmanuel Macron greeted Spain's king and queen on Wednesday, he replaced the traditional handshake with an Indian-style namaste, pressing his palms together and bowing slightly. Beside Macron as he welcomed King Felipe in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace in Paris, French first lady Brigitte Macron played her part too, blowing a kiss in the direction of Queen Letizia by way of greeting.