Steve Bruce has revealed he wanted to bring club doctor Paul Catterson to his Press conference on Friday to explain how the club have taken every step to safeguard their players and staff.
It was Dr Catterson who led the way for Premier League clubs by banning handshakes at the training ground in Benton before top-flight chiefs followed and banned the pre-match ritual between clubs.
As members of the media arrived to the club's HQ on Friday, they were told to sanitise their hands as the coronavirus outbreak dominated world headlines.
Bruce said: "I was actually going to bring the doctor in with me.
"Again, you are asking questions of somebody like myself, and it's hard enough to pick a football team, without answering questions about a virus that has gone around.
"But he's been in contact with other doctors I believe.
"The only viable solution was to suspend games.
"I don't think there was an alternative but to shut it down.
"The welfare of every individual is far more more important than anybody else."
Bruce's Press conference was one of the few to survive on Friday after news that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had contracted the virus.
Bruce said: "We have crossed paths over the years but I don't know him on a personal level.
"Like everybody else we wish him well and hope he recovers."
Arteta released a message on Friday to say: "Thanks for your words and support.
"We're all facing a huge and unprecedented challenge.
"Everyone's health is all that matters right now.
"Protect each other by following the guidelines.
"We'll come through this together."
