Coronavirus: 'India Ahead Of Curve', Says Trump After Greeting Irish PM With 'Namaste' At White House

Amid the threats of coronavirus outbreak, US President Donald Trump and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Thursday greeted each other in traditional Indian style of ‘namaste’ at the White House. “We didn’t shake hands today and we looked at each other and said what’re we going to do. Sort of a weird feeling”, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He added, “I just got back from India and I didn’t shake any hands there. It was easy.”

When asked how they greeted each other, Trump and, Varadkar, who is of Indian origin, joined palms in the ‘namaste’ pose.

The US president also displayed the Japanese way of greeting—the bowing of head.

“They (India and Japan) were ahead of the curve,” he remarked, however he added that bowing and ‘namaste’ gave him a 'strange feeling'.

“It almost feels impersonal or feels like you’re being rude, but we just can’t afford to think like that for the next few weeks,” Varadkar told reporters.

Moreover, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said coronavirus “is a controllable pandemic”. According to latest updates, the number of COVID-19 cases in the world stands at 125,293, with over 4,600 deaths being reported so far.

According to latest updates, at least 1,663 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the United States. Forty people have lost their lives in the US so far, with confirmed coronavirus cases coming from at least 46 states including Washington, D.C.

(With inputs from Agencies)