Leaders from across the United Kingdom, and indeed the world, are being advised not to shake hands, with several conferences operating a 'no hands' policy.
The handshake is a staple of modern day business practice. From greetings, hirings and deals to casual crossings in corridors, there are so many incidences in which reaching out your hand or taking someone else's is second nature.
And yet, this act of courtesy and camaraderie may be helping the Covid-19 to spread.
Business people regularly top the frequent flyer league tables, rivalled only by Hollywood movie stars, world leaders and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
From the moment they land on foreign shores to the moment they return to the UK, their shaking hand will barely get a rest, giving them ample opportunity to pick up nasty germs and pass them on to someone else.
And so, as well as carrying hand sanitiser with them on their travels, they are now being advised to forego handshakes altogether.
A bow or a nod should be a more than adequate replacement. And business acquaintances may well appreciate your desire to avoid passing them any of your unwanted germs.
It is perhaps no surprise that the Pope, who is one of the world's most most prolific hand shakers, was taken ill this afternoon following a particularly exhaustive bout on hand shaking on Ash Wednesday.
The 83-year old Argentine, who is otherwise thought to be in good health, was seen shaking hands with the faithful and kissing a baby. He has now had to duck out of this afternoon's engagements to recuperate at home.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was not prepared to take the same risks. On a visit to the Cave of the Patriarchs this week, Mr Netanyahu avoided any hand to hand contact with fellow worshippers.
The cave was visited two weeks ago by a group of South Korean tourists, eighteen of which were later revealed to have tested positive for Covid-19. So perhaps Mr Netanyahu's lack of tactility was understandable.
In place of a handshake, the Israeli Prime Minister bowed and offered the Hindu greeting 'Namaste.' Perhaps this could be the new vogue for business over the coming weeks and months.
