Damage limitation is the driver across Europe
● How countries are stepping up their responses to the pandemic
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has announced dramatic measures including quarantining two hard-hit areas of Tirol.
Retail businesses are being asked to close from Monday, apart from those providing essential services such as supermarkets, petrol stations, banks, post offices and pharmacies. Bars and cafes will only be allowed to stay open until 3pm.
The Greek Olympic committee says it is suspending the rest of its torch relay because of an “unexpectedly large crowd” that gathered to watch despite repeated requests to stay away to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The handover of the Olympic Flame to the Tokyo organising committee will go ahead as scheduled on 19 March at the stadium in Athens where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.
The government said Czech citizens and foreigners arriving from 15 countries considered risky – ran, Korea, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Britain – facequarantine for two weeks.
President Emmanuel Macron vowed that nationwide elections will go ahead this weekend.
Voting stations are under orders to allow a one-metre gap between people in queues, and to provide soap, sanitising gel or disinfectant wipes for voting machines.
Prime minister Pedro Sanchez said the government will declare a two-week state of emergency starting today.
The royal palace said King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia have tested negative for Covid-19. The royal couple took the test on Thursday after the government confirmed the infection of equality minister Irene Montero, who had attended an event with the queen last week.
States are beginning to close down schools as a precautionary measure.
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government and state governors have agreed on other measures including asking hospitals to postpone any nonessential operations.
MPS voted unanimously to approve the government’s proposal for a 30-day state of emergency across the country.
A ban will be imposed on travel to certain countries, and people from countries with a high rate of infections will be banned from entering the country.
Norway has reported its first death from the coronavirus
Scots actor Gerard Butler joined the Olympic torch relay, which has since been cancelled
and King Harald V, members of the royal family and some government officials have been put in quarantine because they had travelled abroad in recent weeks.
MPS passed a temporary law under which authorities can force people who are suspectedofhavingthevirustoundergo tests.the government has already closed all schools and daycare facilities and ordered government workers who do not perform critical functions to stay home.
Estonia has declared a state of emergency, meaning no events can take place in public areas.