Spain and France impose sweeping new restrictions
Two of the EU's biggest states, Spain and France, have followed Italy in announcing emergency restrictions to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
In Spain, people are banned from leaving home aside from buying essential supplies and medicines, or for work.
With 191 deaths, Spain is Europe's worst-hit country after Italy.
In France, where 91 people have died, cafes, restaurants, cinemas & most shops are actually shut.
Italy, which has recorded a lot more than 1,440 deaths, began a nationwide lockdown on Monday.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says Europe is currently the "epicentre" of the pandemic.
WHO head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged countries to use aggressive measures, community mobilization and social distancing to save lots of lives.
In other developments:
US President Donald Trump has tested negative for coronavirus, the White House said. Mr Trump was tested days after hosting a meeting that included some guests who were later found to really have the virus
The US is to extend its European coronavirus travel ban to include the UK and Republic of Ireland from 04:00 GMT on Tuesday
The amount of deaths in the united kingdom doubled in 24 hours to 21. A lot more than 200 scientists have written to the government urging them to introduce tougher measures
A partial monetary shutdown will maintain place across Israel from Sunday, with public venues like shopping centres and restaurants closed
In China, where in fact the coronavirus outbreak started this past year, new cases among persons arriving in the united states outnumbered those by local transmission for the first time
What measures has Spain taken?
Spain, that includes a population of 46.7 million, has recorded a lot more than 6,300 infections.
Late on Saturday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's wife Begoña Gómez tested positive for the virus, the government confirmed.
It said they both remained in the prime minister's residence at La Moncloa in Madrid and were doing fine.
About 1,800 more cases have already been recorded since Friday evening - many in the capital.
Under circumstances of emergency, Mr Sánchez is banning Spanish citizens from leaving home, aside from buying essential supplies and medicines, or for work.
All museums, cultural centres and sports venues will be closed. Restaurants and cafes may only do home deliveries.
Essential services like banks and petrol stations will stay open. Schools already are shut in the united states.
On Saturday, Mr Sánchez appealed for unity, contacting all regions to place ideological variations aside and put citizens first.
"I would like to tell the workers, the self-employed and businesses that the federal government of Spain can do everything in its capacity to cushion the effects of the crisis," he said.
The state of emergency will last for two weeks - more if deemed necessary and parliament approves.
This would be the second state of emergency in the country because the transition to democracy started out in 1975, the first being truly a 2010 air traffic controllers' strike.
And what about France?
France, a country of 63.5 million people, has reported a lot more than 4,400 confirmed cases.
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said the quantity of folks in France in intensive care was growing and earlier guidelines for the public were being ignored.
The closure - which went into force at 23:00 GMT on Saturday - applies to restaurants, cafes, cinemas and nightclubs and also non-essential businesses.
You won't, Mr Philippe said, affect essential businesses which he listed as food shops, chemists, banks, tobacco shops and petrol stations.
Mr Philippe also asked persons to lessen their travel, especially between towns. "The easiest way to decelerate the epidemic", he said, was "social distancing".
"I say this gravely - we should all together show greater discipline in the application of these measures," Mr Philippe added.
Local elections due on Sunday will still go ahead, he said. Religious buildings will remain open but gatherings and ceremonies should be postponed.
Schools in France will be closed as of Monday until further notice.
France reported a sharp rise in cases on Saturday, from 3,661 to 4,499. It recorded 12 more deaths, bringing the toll to 79.
The BBC's Paris correspondent, Hugh Schofield, says the measures total a dramatic ratcheting-up of the French response, reflecting growing alarm at the fast spread of the virus.
