American Idol host Ryan Seacrest has announced that the current season will proceed as planned despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Most TV productions have shut down due to the spread of the deadly disease, which has claimed more than 45,000 lives worldwide to date.

Idol's live shows were due to begin on April 6 but ABC has now confirmed plans to instead air American Idol: This is Me, which will take an in-depth look at the top 20 contestants.

"With safety being the priority, that is #1, we do want to deliver all of this season. We want to put on these performance episodes," Seacrest told TMZ.

"We want to put on the episodes that allow America to vote for their favourites to get to an American Idol winner this season. So, how are we going to do that? We haven't fully decided. I think we see the obvious ways that people are using technology now on the air and on social media.

"I think we're trying to push the limits of technology and explore any sort of technology that might be available to us to deliver the performance, to deliver the judges comments. And to deliver America being able to vote so we can make it through the entire season."

Idol is now in its 18th season.