The global reaction

Spain

Congress has suspended parliament for a week and stopped direct flights to Italy. Schools and universities will be closed for two weeks in the Basque Country capital of Vitoria, and, from today, in the whole Madrid region.

Madrid’s regional authority has closed day centres for the elderly and banned visitors from residences. Madrid hospitals are preparing to cancel non-urgent operations and other procedures.

The government has asked companies to allow employees to work from home “where possible”.

Germany

The German government yesterday pledged €1billion to tackle the outbreak. The country confirmed its first two deaths on Monday in the most populous state of North-rhine Westphalia.

Several states, including Bavaria, have announced bans on events of more than 1,100 participants.

The restrictions have had an immediate impact on the German football calendar, with most Bundesliga games set to be played behind closed doors. Chancellor Angela Merkel said that all non-essential activities should be cancelled.

Greece

A two-week shutdown of schools and universities to “slow the spread” of the coronavirus was announced yesterday.

Most of the cases have been confirmed in the west but also in Athens, Thessaloniki and the islands of Evia and Lesbos.

The outbreak will also affect the Olympic flame lighting ceremony for this summer’s Tokyo Games, which is to be held in ancient Olympia on Thursday without spectators.

The Greek Orthodox Church has refused to shut down churches and says priests will not stop distributing Holy Communion.

Austria

The government announced drastic measures yesterday to try to stop the spread of the virus, with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz declaring the country would close its border with Italy.

Yesterday morning, guards at the Brenner Pass border crossing started conducting health checks and turning back people who showed signs of fever.

Tourists will continue to be able to cross the border as long as they pledge to drive straight through Austria without stopping. Austrians who return home will face two weeks of quarantine.

France

All Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches will be played behind closed doors until April 15, after the French government banned all gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

Culture Minister Franck Riester and five MPS are among those who have tested positive for the virus.

Mr Macron said yesterday that France was “just at the beginning” of the“epidemic” and would take a region-byregion approach, a day after warning people to minimise contact with the elderly.

Schools have been closed in several areas.

US

Donald Trump said he would ask Congress for a payroll tax cut and other “very major” stimulus moves. He said cruise and airline industries would be getting aid, but did not elaborate.

In Congress, Democrats are preparing a package of aid that includes unemployment insurance and sick pay for working families.

At least five congressmen are now self-quarantined and several confidants of Mr Trump have disclosed they are isolating themselves.

Mr Trump said he had no need for a test as he felt “so good” and urged Americans to stay calm as the virus would “go away”.