New York's mayor has ordered restaurants, bars and cafes to only sell food on a takeaway or delivery basis as the city battles to halt the spread of COVID-19.

Bill de Blasio also moved to close nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert venues.

In a written statement, he said: "This is not a decision I make lightly.

Image: Restaurants are closed to dine-in customers

Image: Restaurants in New York have been made to close

"These places are part of the heart and soul of our city. They are part of what it means to be a New Yorker. But our city is facing an unprecedented threat, and we must respond with a wartime mentality."

Similarly in Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti issued an executive order on Sunday to close bars, nightclubs, entertainment venues and gyms until at least 31 March.


Mr Garcetti said restaurants will be closed to the public but will be allowed to do takeaway and delivery. Supermarkets will remain open.

Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts and Washington state are also among places that ordered bars to close and restaurants to stop dine-in services.

:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker

Health officials have advised people to distance themselves from each other socially, with some states banning gatherings with more than a certain number of people.

The decision comes just hours after Donald Trump urged the public to stop hoarding groceries during the coronavirus outbreak, telling Americans to "take it easy" and "relax".

How Italians are coping under lockdown

During a briefing, the president also hailed the "very good news" that the Federal Reserve had slashed its benchmark interest rate by a full percentage point to a target range of 0% to 0.25%.

US officials have recorded more than 4,600 COVID-19 cases and 85 deaths linked to the virus.

Sky's US correspondent, Greg Milam, said cities and states had decided "it's up to them to deal with it" amid criticism of Mr Trump's response.

The new measures came as the confirmed cases of coronavirus around the world surpassed 169,000 - meaning there have now been more confirmed cases outside than inside China, where the figure stands at over 81,000.

Globally, more than 6,500 people have died after testing positive for COVID-19. China, Italy, Iran, South Korea and Spain are the countries with the most cases.

Further restrictions and border closures are continuing to be announced around the world.

Spain has enforced a nationwide quarantine, while Austria's chancellor said his government was limiting people's movement nationwide.

This came shortly after the country's Tyrol province followed Italy and Spain in barring people from leaving their homes except for essential errands and work.

Neighbouring Slovenia said it would shut down all public transport starting today and planned to shut all but food shops and pharmacies.

Estonia and Latvia confirmed they would close their borders to foreign nationals, except residents, from Tuesday.

Turkey has put aside quarantine beds for more than 10,000 people returning from pilgrimage to Islam's holy sites in Saudi Arabia. It has also suspended mass prayers in mosques.

Image: People wave and clap their hands next to a Italian flags during a lockdown 'flash mob' in Rome

Italy, the worst-hit European country with more than 21,000 infections and 1,400 deaths, wound its nearly week-old lockdown still tighter.

The transport ministry banned passengers from taking ferries to the island of Sardinia, and also banned overnight train trips - which many in the worst-affected north had been taking to reach homes and families in the south.

Nearby Morocco has suspended all international flights and announced it will close all mosques from Monday along with restaurants, theatres and sports clubs. Takeaway food and shops selling essentials are exempt.

Somalia confirmed its first case of coronavirus - a Somali national who travelled from China last week - after they tested positive for COVID-19.

France, which has reported 4,500 cases and 91 deaths, went ahead with nationwide elections to choose mayors and other local leaders despite a crackdown on public gatherings.

Image: Restaurants in Paris have also been closed

The state of Bavaria in neighbouring Germany, which had reported nearly 3,800 cases and eight deaths nationwide as of Saturday, also went ahead with municipal elections.

German newspaper Bild has since reported that the government is looking to close restaurants, non-essential shops and ban church services as part of a new wave of measures to tackle the outbreak.

Meanwhile, German airline Lufthansa has said it will cut 90% of its long-haul flights from Tuesday and the country's Bundesliga and second division football leagues will be put on hold until 2 April at the very least.

There were tough steps being taken in South East Asia too, with soldiers and police sealing the densely populated Philippine capital Manila from most domestic travellers, in one of the region's most drastic containment measures.

Other European countries are continuing to impose strict measures

In Indonesia, President Joko Widodo asked all people to work, study and worship from home.

Malaysia said it would restrict travel, ban public gatherings, and close schools, universities and shops from Wednesday.

In China, where the virus was first detected, those arriving on overseas flights were routed to a converted exhibition centre for initial checks before being shuttled off to their homes or other quarantine locations.

In the Middle East, Muslim authorities announced that Jerusalem's al Aqsa mosque, Islam's third-holiest site, would be closed indefinitely due to concerns about the outbreak, with prayers continuing to be held on the sprawling esplanade outside.

Iran said it had nearly 14,000 virus cases and 724 deaths, while Egypt has reported 110 cases, including two fatalities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial on serious corruption charges, which was supposed to begin this week, was postponed for two months because of restrictions on public gatherings.

Guatemala has logged its first fatality from coronavirus as nations in South and Central America ramped up measures to contain the infection, with Panama banning entry of non-resident foreigners and Honduras closing its borders to passenger traffic for a week.

:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

The leaders of Argentina and Peru also announced border closures.

Several African governments have closed borders, cancelled flights and imposed strict entry and quarantine requirements to contain the spread of coronavirus.

South Africa declared a national state of disaster and warned the outbreak could have a "potentially lasting" impact and banned gatherings of more than 100 people.

Kenya suspended travel from any country with reported COVID-19 cases.

Americans rush to board final planes to US

In west Africa, Ghana will ban entry from Tuesday to anyone who has been to a country with more than 200 coronavirus cases in the past 14 days, unless they are an official resident or Ghanaian national.

In southern Africa, Namibia ordered schools to close for a month after recording its first two cases.

Djibouti, which has no confirmed case of COVID-19, has suspended all international flights and Tanzania cancelled flights to India and suspended school games.

In other developments:

Virus has infected more than 169,000 people worldwide and killed over 6,500

Italy records 368 more deaths from the coronavirus outbreak on Sunday, its biggest one day rise

Britain will isolate older people "within weeks" and force into quarantine anyone diagnosed with coronavirus

"within weeks" and force into quarantine anyone diagnosed with coronavirus Public Health England (PHE) warned health chiefs the epidemic in the UK could last until spring 2021

As of 9am on Monday, 1,543 people had tested positive for coronavirus in the UK

Figures from Sunday show 35 people in the UK have died since being diagnosed

show 35 people in the UK have died since being diagnosed More major retailers shut stores in the US including Nike, Under Armour, and Lululemon Athletica

Sky News will broadcast a special programme at 6pm, with experts answering your questions #AskSkyNews at 12.30pm