The US has suspended all non-essential traffic across its borders with both Mexico and Canada as it battles to control the coronavirus outbreak.

The curbs will go into effect at midnight on Saturday but will not affect trade, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday.

Meanwhile New York State ordered non-essential businesses to close, a day after a similar move by California.

Countries around the world are stepping up restrictions to combat the virus.

The virus has claimed more than 220 lives in the US and infected more than 16,000 people.

Globally nearly 250,000 patients have tested positive for the respiratory illness and more than 10,000 have died.

As both the number of cases and the global death toll continued to soar, many countries and regions took new measures on Friday, including:

Spain : The government warned that army patrols would catch people outside without good reason

: The government warned that army patrols would catch people outside without good reason Bavaria: Germany’s second most populous state became the first state in impose a lockdown

Germany’s second most populous state became the first state in impose a lockdown France : police said patrols at Paris railway stations had been reinforced to stop people going on trips for the weekend

: police said patrols at Paris railway stations had been reinforced to stop people going on trips for the weekend Indonesia: a state of emergency will be in force in the capital Jakarta from Monday – bars, cinemas and many other businesses will be shut down.

Why did the US restrict border traffic?

President Donald Trump said on Friday: “Our nation’s top health care officials are extremely concerned about the grave public health consequences of mass, uncontrolled cross-border movement.”

He added: “Every week, our border agents encounter thousands of unscreened, unvetted and unauthorised entries from dozens of countries.”

Earlier this week President Trump announced that the border with Canada would be closed to non-essential traffic “by mutual consent”.

During Friday’s news conference, Mr Pompeo said the restrictions would take effect on Saturday and also apply to Mexico. They are due be in place for at least 30 days. Read more

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