Eric Clapton has postponed the first two dates of a new run of European concerts this week because he recently contracted the COVID-19 virus.

The affected dates were scheduled for Tuesday, May 17 in Zurich, Switzerland, and Wednesday, May 18, in Milan, Italy.

According to a post on the official Where's Eric website, Clapton, 77, tested positive for COVID-19 after playing his most recent show, a May 8 performance at London's Royal Albert Hall, and he decided to postpone the concerts after his medical advisers told him that "if he were to resume travelling and performing too soon, it could substantially delay his full recovery."

The message adds, "Eric is also anxious to avoid passing on any infection to any of his band, crew, promoters, their staff and of course, the fans."

Clapton is now hoping to launch the trek with his two scheduled shows in Bologna, Italy on May 20 and 21. The outing is mapped out through a June 17 concert in Tampere, Finland.

The plan is to rescheduled the postponed Zurich and Milan shows sometime in the next six months, and tickets that have already been purchased will be valid for the new dates.

Clapton has been a vocal critic of vaccine mandates, reporting last year that he had an adverse reaction after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.

In other news, Clapton has announced a seven-date series of U.S. concerts taking place this September, according to Ticketmaster.com. The trek begins with a September 8 show in Columbus, Ohio, and runs through a Septmber 18-19 engagement at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Eric also will perform in Detroit on September 10, in Chicago on September on September 12 and 13, and in Pittsburgh on September 16.

Visit Ticketmaster for details about on-sale dates.

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