Border closures and travel restrictions have been imposed across Europe in an attempt to slow the coronavirus pandemic, as the death toll in Italy surged past 1,800.

Italian authorities confirmed on Sunday another 368 people had died – a 25 per cent increase in 24 hours – as the total number of confirmed cases approached 25,000.

In Spain, which entered the first day of a nationwide quarantine, the death toll more than doubled to 288. Army specialists in protective suits sprayed disinfectant in train stations and police in surgical masks ordered casual strollers to go home as long lines of people queued for food.

With Italy’s own countrywide restrictions now nearly a week old, more than 105 million people are in lockdown in Europe – with other countries set to follow in the coming days or weeks.

The UK, which has not yet restricted everyday activities, said it plans to set out emergency powers this week, as food retailers appealed to the public to stop panic buying toilet roll and other essentials.

Hundreds of British tourists remain stranded on a cruise ship in the Caribbean after four crew and one passenger tested positive for coronavirus last week. Both Barbados and The Bahamas have refused to allow people to disembark the MS Braemar, which faces making the 10-day journey to Southampton if it cannot negotiate entry to a nearby port.

The cruise line company Fred Olsen sought to reassure relatives by issuing a statement confirming the bars were still open and all passengers had been given a complementary all-inclusive drinks package.

In France, where most shops, cafes and restaurants were closed on Sunday, the government is reportedly preparing an order that requires people to stay in their homes.

Germany is set to close its borders with France, Austria and Switzerland from Monday in an attempt to both contain the epidemic and prevent bulk purchases of goods by foreigners.

Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz also announced plans to limit movement nationwide. He said people should go out “only alone or with the people who live in their apartment.” Poland and Lithuania are also shutting their borders.

Meanwhile, the Irish government has urged all bars to close for two weeks – including St Patrick’s Day – and warned people not to hold house parties.

Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Show all 29 1 /29 Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Saudi Arabia An eerie emptiness enveloped the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, where attendance at Friday prayers was hit by measures to protect against coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world China An empty street in Wuhan. 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Albania has stepped up measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 caused by the novel coronavirus and banned circulation of all cars (except ambulances and supplies) for 3 days and urged people to stay home as the number of infected people increased to 33 AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Iraq An empty cafe during a curfew imposed by Iraqi Kurdish authorities, following the outbreak of coronavirus, near the castle in the old city of Erbil Reuters Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world South Korea An aerial view shows hygiene officials riding a vehicle disinfecting public buses at a depot in Gwangju EPA Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Belgium A woman runs though the nearly empty historic center of Antwerp AP Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world China Jingyue bridge, spanning the Yangtze river, leading to Hubei province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Vietnam Formula One Vietnam Grand Prix race track in Hanoi AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Spain Restaurant terraces remain closed at the usually overcrowded Plaza Mayor in central Madrid AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Thailand Tourist buses parked on a lot near Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Poland An aerial view of Jagiellonian University's new campus during the 2 weeks closure of universities, schools, museums and other public facilities in Krakow Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Italy A canal and the roads next to it are seen completely empty in Venice Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Greece An aerial view taken with a drone showing the yard of an empty school at Nafplio, Peloponnese EPA Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Saudi Arabia An aerial view shows an empty white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Italy Rome's office district EUR, at what would have otherwise been rush hour, virtually empty after a government decree has limited circulation AP Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Italy Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Thailand Legend Siam theme park in Pattaya AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Belgium Empty shelves in a supermarket in Brussels AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Iran A satellite view shows Tehran airport Maxar Technologies via Reuters Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Italy The deserted Via Manzoni street in Milan Reuters Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Saudi Arabia An aerial view shows an empty white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, on March 6, 2020. - An eerie emptiness enveloped the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, where attendance at Friday prayers was hit by measures to protect against the deadly new coronavirus. (Photo by Bandar ALDANDANI / AFP) (Photo by BANDAR ALDANDANI/AFP via Getty Images) BANDAR ALDANDANI AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Italy An empty street and canal in Venice Reuters Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Thailand An aerial photo shows unused tourist buses parked on a lot near Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world China An almost empty street in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Empty streets across the world Poland A view of the deserted Krakowskie Przedmiescie and tahe Old Town Square in Warsaw EPA

Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, said it was an “essential public health measure given the reports of reckless behaviour by some members of the public in certain pubs last night”.

The Netherlands ordered the closure of all schools, daycare centres, restaurants, bars, “coffee shops” selling marijuana and sex clubs until 6 April, while Turkey said bars and nightclubs will be closed from Monday.

Elsewhere, Morocco suspended all international flights, Senegal banned all public gatherings for a month, and Muslim authorities announced that Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, would be closed indefinitely.