French President Macron has warned people to "severely restrict movements for the next 15 days at least," limiting social contacts, and that any violation of this new regime would be "punished"

Germany's social life is grinding to a halt, its retailers are largely shutting down and borders partially closing

The European Commission has proposed a 30-day travel ban for all but essential travel

Spain has become the fourth most virus-infected country in the world, surpassing South Korea

Updates in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC/GMT)

00:00 This concludes our live updates on the coronavirus outbreak for the moment. More information on the outbreak is available on our page and on DW TV. Thank you for joining us.

23:42 US states will now be able to approve tests developed in laboratories in states, following new regulations agreed by the US Food and Drug Administration in a bid to speed up virus testing.

23:25 Australian airline Qantas is cutting its international capacity by 90% and domestic flights by 60%.

22:55 Two of Germany's banks will close branches around the country. Commerzbank said it will close several hundred of its roughly 1,000 branches and HVB plans to close 101 out of its 337 branches.

22:35 Around 35% of Spanish football team Valencia players and club members have tested positive for coronavirus.

22:30 US Trump Administration Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham will work from home after contact with her counterpart from the Brazilian government who tested positive for the virus.

22:20 Fashion event the New York Met-Gala and one of golf's biggest competition's, the Masters, are the latest events to be postponed due to the virus.

22:15 El Salvador has closed its airports to any non-passenger aircraft until further notice, said President Nayib Bukele.

21:55 Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Colombia, Peru and Guyana have agreed to "unify measures for the entry of people into each country," as part of the regional alliance PROSUR, Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno wrote on Twitter. "United South America is stronger!" he added.

21:42 Six counties in the San Francisco area and the city of Berkeley have ordered residents to stay home. The measures will effect millions living in the region. A "remain-in-place" order announced by San Francisco Mayor London Breed will go into effect at the end of Tuesday and remain in force until April 7, with the possibility it will be extended.

There have been four confirmed deaths in the region, with 258 confirmed cases.

21:35 Famous Indian religious landmark and tourist hotspot the Taj Mahal was closed to visitors from Monday. The world's second most populous country has already shut most schools and entertainment venues.

21:30 France will mobilize 100,000 police to carry out checks on people's movements, said the country's interior minister Christophe Castaner. French President Emmanuel Macron earlier announced severe restrictions to movement in the country: people will only be able to leave their homes for food, going to work or to take a walk.

Fines of up to €135 ($150) will be handed out to those flouting the toughened restrictions.

Watch video 00:42 France imposes restrictions on movement to contain coronavirus

21:05 Turkey's health ministry has announced that its number of cases has more than doubled to a total of 47.

21:02 The latest Brazilian political figure to test positive for coronavirus is Marcus Troyjo the deputy foreign trade secretary.

20:39 US President Donald Trump has warned Americans that the country "may be" heading for a recession and a struggle against the coronavirus pandemic that could last for months.

Trump's fears over the economy have come after Wall Street stocks reported their worst day in more than three decades.

"If we do a really good job... people are talking about July, August," he told reporters, saying he might ask the military to help build temporary hospitals to tackle rising numbers of sick people.

"We will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus," Trump said. "We can turn the corner and turn it quickly."

Watch video 00:35 Trump: Avoid eating, drinking in public places

20:35 The Germany's DAX, on the Frankfurt stock exchange, closed on Monday at 8742 points, shedding 5.31%.

20:31 In the US, Wall Street stocks have joined the global carnage as a widening part of the American and global economy shuts down due to the coronavirus fallout, in its worst day since 1987.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 12.9%, or nearly 3,000 points, at 20,188.52.

20:19 Jordan has suspended trading in the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) from Tuesday until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Jordanian government has been trying to cushion the impact of the outbreak on the cash strapped economy as the authorities tightened restrictions by banning all incoming and outgoing flights.

20:10 Egypt has revealed two more deaths because of coronavirus, bringing the country's death tally to four, the health ministry said in a statement.

The individuals were a 72-year-old German who died in Luxor and a 50-year-old Egyptian in Dakahlia Governorate, the statement added.

19:55 As the novel coronavirus takes hold in Europe and other parts of the world, as it did in China in January, here is a picture gallery illustrating the global spread of COVID-19.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 Pneumonia-like virus hits Wuhan On December 31, 2019, China notifies the World Health Organization of a string of respiratory infections in the city of Wuhan, home to some 11 million people. The root virus is unknown and disease experts around the world begin working to identify it. The strain is traced to a seafood market in the city, which is quickly shut down. Some 40 people are initially reported to be infected.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 First death in China On January 11, China announces the first death from the coronavirus — a 61-year-old man, who had shopped at the Wuhan market, dies from complications with pneumonia. Like SARS and the common cold, scientists identified that the new virus is in the coronavirus family. It is temporarily named 2019-nCoV. Symptoms include fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, and pneumonia.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 Virus reaches neighboring countries In the following days, countries such as Thailand and Japan begin to report cases of infections in people who had visited the same Wuhan market. In China, a second fatality is confirmed in the city. By January 20, three people have died in China and more than 200 are infected.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 Millions under lockdown China places Wuhan on quarantine on January 23 in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus. Transportation is suspended and workers attempt to quickly build a new hospital to treat infected patients, which total over 830 by January 24, as the death toll climbs to 26. Officials eventually extend the lockdown to 13 other cities, affecting at least 36 million people.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 A global health emergency? More and more cases are confirmed outside of China, including in South Korea, the US, Nepal, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. As the number of infections rises, the World Health Organization on January 23 determines that it's "too early" to declare a global public health emergency.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus reaches Europe On January 24, French authorities confirm three cases of the new coronavirus within its borders, marking the disease's first appearance in Europe. Hours later, Australia confirms four people have been infected with the respiratory virus.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 First cases confirmed in Germany On January 27, Germany announces its first known case of the virus — a 33-year-old in Bavaria who contracted it during a workplace training with a visiting Chinese colleague. He is put under quarantine and observation at a Munich hospital. The following day, three of his colleagues are confirmed infected. The death toll in China reaches 132, with around 6,000 infected worldwide.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 WHO declares global health emergency On January 30, the UN's World Health Organization (WHO) declares coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern in a bid to protect countries with "weaker health systems." However, WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus does not recommend trade and travel restrictions, saying these would be "an unnecessary disruption."

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 First death outside China The first death linked to the novel coronavirus outside of China is reported in the Philippines on February 2. A 44-year-old Chinese man had traveled from Wuhan to Manila before falling ill and being taken to hospital, where he later died of pneumonia.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 Bad ending to a cruise Also on February 3, the cruise ship Diamond Princess is quarantined off Yokohama in Japan after cases of the new coronavirus were found on board. As of February 17, the number of people infected has grown to more than 450, the largest cluster of cases outside of China. Several of the 3,700 passengers and crew onboard the ship are being or have been flown back to their home countries.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 Italy under quarantine Cases in Italy rise dramatically, with 77 deaths and thousands of confirmed cases by March 3. Many countries instigate travel restrictions to northern Italy and tourist numbers plummet. On March 8, the Italian government put the entire Lombardy region into quarantine, affecting 16 million people. March 10 sees 168 fatalities in Italy, the highest in a single day.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 Economic woes European and US stock markets slump on March 6, leading to the worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. The effect on global business has been significant, with many companies reporting losses and the tourism industry and airlines badly hit. The EU pledge €7.5 billion ($8.4 billion) on March 10 in an investment fund to try to stop the Eurozone falling into a recession.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 WHO declares outbreak as pandemic As worldwide cases top 127,000 and deaths pass 4,700, the World Health Organization designates the global outbreak as a "pandemic" on March 11. US President Donald Trump announces a travel restriction on people coming from the Schengen Zone in Europe, annoying the EU. German Chancellor Angela Merkel announces that in Germany, 70% of the population could get the virus.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 Public life on hold in Europe On March 14, Spain joins Italy in imposing a near-total nationwide lockdown to prevent the virus spreading. The population of 46 million is told not to leave their homes unless for essential tasks. In France, cafés, restaurants and non-essential shops are closed as of March 15. Many public events in Germany are cancelled and schools close.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 International travel severely restricted As of March 15, many countries impose strict travel bans or restrictions in an attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19. For example, New Zealand and Australia require all international passengers to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival in the country. The US extends a European travel ban to include the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 Germany imposes partial lockdown In a landmark televised address German Chancellor Angela Merkel announces far-reaching restrictions on everyday life on March 22, banning meetings between more than two people not from the same household outside of the workplace. The country has a surprisingly low death rate, a phenomenon attributed to a high level of testing, and a high number of intensive care beds.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 Virus strikes at top as UK locks down On March 23rd Britain becomes the latest country to impose restrictions on personal freedoms, with people only allowed to leave their homes in a limited number of circumstances. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is diagnosed with the viruson March 27, as well as heir to the throne Prince Charles on March 25. Meanwhile, there are complaints that not everyone is taking social distancing seriously.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 Grim milestone for the US On March 27 the US overtakes China in terms of the number of people infected, making it the country with the most cases of COVID-19. This came as President Donald Trump claimed that the nation would get back to work "pretty quickly." At the same time, it emerged that more than 3 million Americans had lost their jobs due to the pandemic. New York is worst-hit, with a hospital ship sent to help out.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 Spain's surging death toll Spain also overtakes China in the number of COVID-19 cases on March 30, as the government toughens the severity of its lockdown. All non-essential activities are halted. Only Italy has a higher death toll than Spain. Most affected is the capital, Madrid. With funeral services overwhelmed, officials turn the Palacio de Hielo ice skating rink into a temporary morgue.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 More than a million On April 2nd the Johns Hopkins University announced on Thursday that there were more than a million confirmed coronavirus cases around the world. The US is the most affected with three times the number than China, where the virus emerged in December. Over 50.000 people have died — and the outlook remains grim.

Coronavirus: Timeline of the global spread of COVID-19 UK PM Boris Johnson hospitalized The 55-year-old was admitted to the intensive care unit at London's St Thomas hospital on Monday evening (6.4.) and was given oxygen treatment after his condition worsened. He had been diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 27. Author: Richard Connor



19:48 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also been speaking, where he has rejected calls to close schools or introduce mass testing, as the World Health Organization have been urging.

The UK government is issuing "strong advice" to entertainment venues to suspend events but is not ordering the closure of schools and pubs, Johnson said.

"We think at the moment, on balance, it's much better to keep schools open," Johnson said.

Watch video 00:53 British PM tells citizens to avoid social contact

19:05 Emmanuel Macron has been speaking in a 20-minute video address to the nation as he told citizens to stay at home and that all external borders will be closed for the next 30 days.

Stricter measures are set to be implemented to step up limits on people's movements, starting Tuesday at midday, and "for the next 15 days at least," Macron said. "Every infraction of these rules will be punished," the president warned.

"I say to you with great solemnity this evening, listen to the healthcare workers who say: If you want to aid us, you must stay at home and avoid contact," Macron said, adding that all companies must do more to help employees work from home. The French president said: "We are in a health war," before adding "never before has France had to take such obviously exceptional, obviously temporary measures in peacetime."

Macron confirmed that a second round of municipal elections due to be held on March 22 have been called off as a result of the outbreak.

18:55 You have to go into quarantine? Your vacation was canceled because of the coronavirus? We've got some tips on how to holiday at home. Take a look at this picture gallery to find out more.

Turn home quarantine into a holiday: here are some ideas It's all about approach The rapid spread of the coronavirus can really spoil your good mood, especially if a booked trip gets cancelled. Or if you have to go into quarantine. Is this what happened to you? The most important thing is how you approach this situation. If you get angry or upset, it will only make matters worse. Instead, so long as you're not sick, you should enjoy your time off and stay level-headed.

Turn home quarantine into a holiday: here are some ideas A holiday on the balcony The first trees are budding, spring flowers are emerging from the ground — winter will soon be over. Use the time and get your garden in shape or take care of your balcony. And when the sun comes out, grab your sunglasses, listen to music and imagine yourself on a beach.

Turn home quarantine into a holiday: here are some ideas Browse travel books When otherwise do you find time to sit on your sofa and read those travel books that have been sitting on the shelf for ages? A holiday at home makes it possible! Learn about other countries — this will certainly help you plan your next post-coronavirus vacation.

Turn home quarantine into a holiday: here are some ideas Roll the tape! Even if you cannot travel yourself, why not join others on their travels! We recommend our travel show Check-In, where you can learn more about Germany. Or you can watch travel-related films like Little Miss Sunshine or Wild.

Turn home quarantine into a holiday: here are some ideas Bathtub spa You love spa holidays? Then relax in the bathtub at home! Perhaps you can find a bubble bath or a face mask hiding in your bathroom cupboard. Afterwards snuggle into your bathrobe and put your feet up.

Turn home quarantine into a holiday: here are some ideas Time for family The best thing about traveling is being able to spend time with family or friends. How often does that fall under the table in the hectic pace of everyday life? Why not play board games together and look at pictures from your past trips.

Turn home quarantine into a holiday: here are some ideas Sip cocktails and cook some new dishes The supermarkets remain open, so why not try cooking something new? Look for recipes of specialties and have a go at cooking them. Or mix some cocktails to get you into a holiday mood.

Turn home quarantine into a holiday: here are some ideas Just enjoy doing nothing The best thing about going on holiday is actually being able to be lazy, chill out and do nothing. Why not try that at home too? It will do you good! Author: Elisabeth Yorck von Wartenburg



18:44 Poland's Environment Minister Michal Wos is the latest global political figure to test positive for coronavirus. Wos made the announcement on Twitter where he said: "I feel good ... and I express solidarity with all those who are sick."

Poland has 156 confirmed coronavirus cases and three people have died as a result of contracting the disease.

18:38 Russia will ban the entry of foreign nationals and stateless people from March 18 to May 1 in response to the pandemic, the Kremlin has announced.

The ban will not apply to diplomatic representatives, airplane crew members and some other categories of people, according to the Russian government.

Russia has 93 cases of the new coronavirus.

18:23 The number of cases in Germany has soared to 6,012, an increase of more than 1,100 since yesterday.

18:18 Here's a clip from German Chancellor Angela Merkel's address where she told citizens that under the new measures, "there shouldn't be any holiday trips undertaken inside the country or outside it."

"There have never been measures like this in our country before. They are far-reaching, but at the moment they are necessary."

Watch video 00:30 Merkel: 'We still need drastic measures'

18:08 According to the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, a large portion of the Netherlands' population will contract the new coronavirus.

"The reality is a great number of the Dutch population will get sick, that is what experts tell us," Rutte said, "It will be a difficult time, but together we will pull through."

18:05 British Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the UK's death toll has reached 53, having previously been 35. Hancock made the announcement in parliament.

The victims were aged between 56 and 94 and had underlying health conditions.

18:02 The number of deaths around the world linked to the new coronavirus has topped 7,000, after Italy announced a new surge in fatalities.

A total of 7,007 people have died, with a 175,536 cases confirmed, across 145 countries.

China has the highest number of fatalities at 3,213, followed by Italy with 2,158 deaths and almost 28,000 cases.

17:58 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced the closure of the country's border to anyone not a citizen or a permanent resident due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Trudeau made the declaration outside his residence, where he is self-isolating after his wife tested positive for the virus.

17:38 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said there was agreement between G7 countries that there should be fiscal stimulus to help cushion the economic impact of the pandemic.

"There is a widespread agreement amongst colleagues in the G7 that we are going to need to make sure everybody has access to liquidity and that if we do things jointly, then I think that the global markets will understand that we're all operating in the same sort of fiscal framework and I think we'll be much more successful that way," Johnson said during a press conference.

The G7 comprises of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

17:24 Despite the strict measures announced by Merkel, DW's Chief Political Editor Michaela Küfner has noted how the German chancellor stopped short of announcing a state of emergency. Nevertheless, the news equates to a "freeze of public life," Küfner said on Twitter.

17:00 German Chancellor Angela Merkel has addressed the nation in Berlin regarding the coronavirus.

Grocery stores, petrol stations, banks and pharmacies will remain open while non-essential shops are to close. Restaurants will close from 6 p.m until 6 a.m, the chancellor has confirmed, following an agreement between the states and the federal government.

Merkel also said all bars, clubs, theaters, zoos, public swimming pools, playgrounds and brothels must close.

All domestic and foreign vacation travel must cease for the time being.

"We are dealing with something unique here," Merkel said. "The more every individual sticks to these restrictions, the faster we can get through this phase."

The virus has infected roughly 6,700 people and killed 13 in Germany so far.

16:23 German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier has urged all citizens to "stay at home" after Europe's biggest economy announced new nationwide restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

"We have to work together to ensure the virus spreads as slowly as possible," said Steinmeier in a statement, after the government announced it would close all non-essential shops, ban religious assemblies, as well as close bars and restaurants.

"So wherever possible: stay at home! Avoid close contact... and have understanding for all restrictive measures."

Watch video 03:15 Share Steinmeier calls for solidarity Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3ZY6D German president calls for solidarity in virus fight

16:13 The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on all countries to increase their testing programs to make them more effective in dealing with the pandemic.

"We have a simple message to all countries — test, test, test," WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference in Geneva.

Watch video 01:41 Share Middle East coronavirus fears Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3ZXfS WHO concerned about spread of virus in Mideast

16:02 Switzerland has said, starting from midnight tonight, all public events are to be banned. All restaurants are bars will be closed until April 19.

Switzerland's government are also mobilizing up to 8,000 members of the military after declaring the rapidly spreading coronavirus an "exceptional" emergency.

"We will not leave you alone," Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga said at a news conference announcing strict new measures aiming to control the epidemic that has killed 14 people and sickened more than 2,200 in Switzerland. "We will take care of you."

15:47 As an additional measure in Germany, shops that are deemed essential, such as supermarkets and pharmacies, will now be allowed to open on Sundays. In the past, all shops were closed in Germany on the sabbath.

15:15 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a 30-day restriction on travel into the European Union, in an effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

"The less travel, the more we can contain the virus. Therefore... I propose to the heads of state and governments to introduce temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the European Union," she said.

"It's of utmost importance to slow down social contact," von der Leyen said, and the ban will be "in place for an initial 30 days."

"Essential staff such as doctors, nurses, care workers, researchers and experts that help address the coronavirus should continue to be allowed in the European Union," she added, as well as people transporting goods.

The Commission has been addressing the media over the outbreak, emphasizing the "priority of citizens."

Watch video 01:14 EU executive proposes closing bloc's borders

14:59 In what are constantly evolving times, further developments are emerging from Germany. The country's states have agreed nationwide restrictions involving restaurants, bars, clubs, theaters, concert halls and museums. We are still awaiting confirmation of when these strict measures will come into place.

Religious gatherings will be banned in Germany until further notice, the federal government and the leaders of its states have decided in response to the outbreak.

Playgrounds are also closing as part of the measures, along with public and private sports facilities, swimming pools and gyms.

Hairdressers, construction supply stores and laundromats will also keep operating, said the government, saying that the move was to ensure that "service providers and craftsmen can continue to carry out their trade."

14:49 Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has placed a limit of 50 people for social gatherings in the Russian capital, as well as closing schools and universities from March 21.

Russia has confirmed 93 cases of the virus, but no deaths, according to official figures.

An employee wearing a protective face mask disinfects a subway train, as part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Moscow. The city's mayor has introduced more stringent measures to combat the outbreak

14:31 Further to the announcement that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to hold a press conference at 6 p.m. local time (1700), German media are reporting that an increased crackdown is in the offing, with non-essential shops set to be closed.

14:23 Algeria's Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad has declared a suspension of all scheduled travel links with Europe from Thursday that will hit all "air and sea travel to and from European countries. This exceptional suspension... will be accompanied by a repatriation plan for our citizens currently in the countries concerned," the PM's office said.

The North African country had already announced a suspension from Tuesday of all traffic links with France, which hosts a large Algerian community, following cuts with Spain and Italy.

Algeria's current death toll from coronavirus is four, the health ministry confirmed.

14:20 The number of cases continues to steadily climb in the United Kingdom with the health ministry confirming 1,543 infections as of Monday afternoon. This is an increase of 171 on the previous day. The death toll from the virus remains at 35, the ministry confirmed.

14:13 German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to hold a press conference at 6 p.m. local time (1700 GMT) where she is expected to announce new measures to stem the spread of COVID-19.

14:01 Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been the subject of increased speculation over whether he has the virus in recent days, is due to undergo tests for a second time. The president also feels the world is overreacting to the outbreak.

Bolsonaro's relaxed attitude towards the outbreak is in stark contrast to that of the markets in the South American country, where the Sao Paulo stock exchange plummeted 12.5% shortly after opening Monday morning, triggering a suspension of trading for the fifth time in a week.

13:51 Quim Torra, the regional president of Catalonia, says he has tested positive for coronavirus. Just last week, the senior lawmaker had asked for the hard-hot region to be placed on a complete lockdown.

13:44 European football's governing body, UEFA, is due to meet tomorrow to discuss the ramifications of the outbreak on its competitions, with Euro 2020 at the top of its agenda, where the international tournament could be shelved until 2021. For all that and how the virus is affecting other sporting events, click here.

13:40 The West African country of Benin has reported its first case, the country's health ministry has said.

13:30 Germany closed its border with France, among other countries, this morning and DW's Bernd Riegert has reported from one crossing point where there’s plenty of skepticism about whether this will stop anything but traffic.

13:09 Starting Thursday, Egypt will halt all air traffic from its airports until March 31, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said.

12:55 Dale Fisher, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Singapore and chair of the World Health Organization's (WHO) global outbreak and response network, told DW that Europe must learn from Asia's response to the coronavirus outbreak.

"They need to practice what's being practiced in large parts of Asia," Fisher said. "This is the early detection of cases. It's lots of testing. It's quarantining of contacts but it's most importantly it's isolating the cases."

Watch video 04:17 Lessons from Asia's coronavirus response – Professor Dale Fisher

12:48 Stena Line, a Swedish ferry company, said it will cut 950 jobs in Sweden as a result of the coronavirus outbreak and travel restrictions imposed by several countries.

12:42 Turkey has suspended mass prayers in mosques due to coronavirus fears, the nation's head of religious affairs said.

12:31 Morocco will close all mosques from Monday to combat the coronavirus outbreak, the country's supreme religious council said. The northern African country will also shut eateries, movie theaters, sports, public baths, and other entertainment venues starting Monday.

12:29 Germany's transport minister is planning to stop flights to and from Iran and China, according to mass-circulation tabloid Bild.

12:27 German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze considers the drastic restrictions on public life caused by the coronavirus to be unavoidable.

"Everybody notices it in everyday life, but it has to be this way for the time being," Schulze told DW. She added that the important thing now is for people, where possible, to reduce their activities to a minimum.

"One has to avoid social contacts, but one knows why," Schulze said.

12:10 Tanzania has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, the Health Ministry said.

12:08 Jewish worshippers have been told to refrain from kissing the stones of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the head rabbi of the site said. Built by Herod the Great more than 2,000 years ago and destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, the Western Wall is the holiest place in Jerusalem for Jews to pray. Kissing the wall is not a ritual requirement, but some devout Jews believe that, in doing so, it shows reverence to God.

12:06 Singapore has reported 17 new cases of coronavirus, its biggest daily jump, taking its total to 243 cases.

11:58 After confirming its first case last week, Turkey has identified 12 new cases of the coronavirus, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Monday. It is the highest daily rise in Turkey and brings its total to 18 confirmed cases.

11:56 Germany wants to send 1 million protective face masks to Italy, according to a European Commission spokesperson.

11:54 Spain becomes the fourth most virus-infected country in the world, surpassing South Korea.

11:41 Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has decided that those arriving in Greece should be in isolation for 14 days, an alternative government spokesman said. The decision comes as Greece is trying to prevent an influx of migrants from Turkey.

Greece also will shut retail stores on Wednesday, the spokesman said.

Watch video 00:52 'Trying times': Italians describe coronavirus lockdown

11:19 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will discuss social distancing measures to protect the elderly and vulnerable at a government emergency meeting on Monday, a government spokesman said.

10:56 Germany's Justice Ministry is suspending a rule obliging companies to apply for insolvency within three weeks of failing to meet an obligation. The suspension until the end of September is to help the country avoid unnecessary bankruptcies due to the coronavirus.

10:50 Germany is in discussions with Lufthansa as it tries to get the thousands of Germans on holiday abroad home, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said. The ministry has advised German citizens to refrain from all non-essential trips abroad.

10:47 Spain confirmed nine more deaths on Sunday, increasing its death toll to 297.

10:47 Iran has 1,053 confirmed new cases in the past 24 hours, Iranian health official Alireza Vahabzadeh said on Twitter. Iranian state TV said the country has 129 new fatalities, raising the death toll to 853.

10:30 China will gradually withdraw medical staff from the Hubei providence, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The province was where the coronavirus outbreak originated in December.

10:28 Hungary is closing its borders to foreigners, shutting movie theaters and limiting opening hours for restaurants in an effort to limit the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced.

"The international talks to coordinate this are taking place now, this means that in future only Hungarian citizens will be able to enter Hungary," Orban said in regards to the border closures.

He also said that Hungary will need "monetary and fiscal tools" to mitigate the virus' effect on the economy. He expects many jobs will be threatened by the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis.

10:27 Germany's Education Minister Anja Klariczek is currently working at home after she attended a conference in which one of the participants later tested positive for coronavirus, the ministry said in a statement on Twitter.

10:05 Germany's southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg will halt air travel in the coming days, a spokesman said. The government is looking into exceptions for air freight. The state is home to Stuttgart and Karlsruhe airports.

10:03 DW's Bernd Riegert, reporting from the German city of Saarbrücken near the French border, said traffic is running quite smoothly three hours after Germany's partial closing of its border with France came into effect.

"Most of the 6,000 to 8,000 commuters that cross the border every day are already in Germany," Riegert said. "It seems that people in France already know and don't even try to get across the border."

Drivers turned back by border patrol officers were quite understanding, Riegert said. Some told DW that they will go back to France and stay there for the time being. "A lot of understanding and no anger," Riegert said.

09:47 French President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a televised nation address at 19:00 UTC, the presidency said.

09:37 Thailand records 33 new coronavirus cases on Monday, increasing its total to 147 cases.

09:32 Taiwan reported eight new cases, its biggest daily rise, increasing the total number to 67. Among the latest cases were people returning to the island from Germany and Austria.

09:31 Georgia banned all foreigners from entering the country, a spokesman for Prime Minster Giorgi Gakharia told a briefing. Georgia has 33 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

09:24 The number of coronavirus cases outside China have now exceeded the number of cases inside China, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Interactive map of the spread of coronavirus

09:12 Germany's southeastern state of Bavaria has set aside €10 billion ($11.2 billion) to help its economy through the coronavirus crisis.

"We won't leave anyone alone," Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder said. "The situation is very serious and changing daily, unfortunately not for the better."

08:58 Thailand will close schools, bars, theaters and other entertainment centers after the government reported 32 new cases on Sunday, a government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said on Twitter. The government will also ask cabinet on Tuesday to postpone the traditional Songkran New Year holiday, which takes place on April 13 to 15, to limit travel inside and outside the country.

Thailand's total cases increased to 114, and the country has reported one death and said 37 people have recovered and been released from hospital.

08:52 The Olympic flame handover in Athens will be performed in an empty stadium on Thursday, organizers said.

08:48 OAG, an airline industry research house, said that nearly 2 million seats were affected when US President Donald Trump announced a ban on flights from Europe.

"Many trans-Atlantic services are operated in joint venture agreements between partners," John Grant, senior aviation analyst at OAG, told DW. He said he hoped "the pain, in some way, would be shared" between the two continents.

Read more: Fragile airline sector struggles to beat coronavirus

08:45 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced that its subsidiaries FCA Italy and Maserati will suspend production until March 27, the automaker said in a statement.

08:45 Austria will provide €2 billion in additional guarantees to help companies cope with the coronavirus crisis, the country's Finance Minister Gernot Blümel said.

08:30 Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said shutting the country's border is among the options up for discussion to fight the coronavirus pandemic, he told radio station Cadena Ser on Monday. He said he would discuss a potential border closure with fellow EU ministers.

08:17 Sweden announced an economic stimulus package worth more than 300 billion Swedish krona (€27.7 billion, $30.9 billion). The measures include the government assuming the full cost of sick leave from companies through April and May as well as the cost for temporary redundancy.

08:14 Russia will create a 300-billion-rouble (€3.6 billion, $4 billion) anti-crisis fund to protect its economy from the coronovirus shock. Prime Minister Mikhail Mushustin said the fund is to "counter the coronavirus' negative influence on the economy and on people's lives" in comments carried by the Interfax news agency.

08:09 German President Frank Walter Steinmeier has said that the goal should be to "save as many lives as possible" and to "slow down the further spread of the virus so that our health system can cope with the rapidly increasing burden of new infections."

"We will beat the virus," Steinmeier said in an interview with German news website t-online.de. "But in what kind of society we will live afterwards, and in what kind of world, depends on how we act today. What we do today is primarily to protect the elderly and the weaker among us."

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Food donations drop Panic-buying has left empty shelves in supermarkets — and food banks. With Germans snapping up canned goods and toilet paper to weather the outbreak, stores have fewer supplies left over to donate to the needy, said Jochen Brühl, head of Tafel Deutschland, which supports more than 1.5 million people with surplus groceries and other donations. Brühl encouraged those who had overreacted to donate.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Bundesliga suspended After playing one match behind closed doors, the Bundesliga has suspended its season until at least April 2. The Germany football league had considered playing matches behind closed doors until Paderborn's coach Steffen Baumgart and defender Luca Kilian tested positive for COVID-19.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Cultural cancellations Cultural life has also taken a hit, with major fairs and trade shows canceled or postponed. Among the casualties were the Leipzig Book Fair and the Musikmesse Frankfurt, Europe's biggest music trade fair. Numerous clubs, galleries and museums have closed across the country, and the gala award show for the annual German film and television award, the Goldene Kamera, has been moved to November.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Not the 'Wuhan flu' The Chinese origin of the virus has led to an increase in xenophobic sentiment in the places worst hit by the outbreak. Asian restaurants and stores — not just Chinese — have reported empty tables in countries hard hit by the pandemic, and people with Asian features have experienced discrimination. At a recent Bundesliga game in Leipzig, a group of Japanese fans was ejected from the stadium.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Flights grounded German airline Lufthansa has massively reduced its flight capacity as business and personal travel is cut back. The flagship carrier is now seeking state aid, according to a report from Germany business newspaper Handelsblatt. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr will be attending a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to government sources.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Car production crippled Car plants in China have been shut down since January, and major German automakers like Volkswagen and Daimler have said both sales and production have been hit by the epidemic. And with many automakers sourcing electric car parts from China, work at plants in Germany has also hit a stumbling block. Berlin has said it plans to financially support companies suffering coronavirus losses.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Fewer tourists "The consequences for the German tourism sector are serious," warned Guido Zöllick, head of the German Hotel and Restaurant Association. Already by the second week of March, 76.1% of members had reported a sharp decrease in bookings and a drop in revenue. The German parliament has banned tourists from visiting the glass dome of the Reichstag building until further notice.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? Border checks In an effort to prevent further spread, Germany has closed its borders with France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria and Denmark. Authorities in Poland and the Czech Republic had already begun spot checks, measuring the temperature of travelers crossing main road borders out of Germany.

How is coronavirus affecting life in Germany? School closures Preschools and primary schools across Germany have shut. The closures have affected more than 2.2 million children up to age 16 countrywide, according to Germany's Federal Statistical Office. German television stations have adjusted their programming in response to the school closures. Author: Martin Kuebler



08:07 European stocks markets plunged as trading opened on Monday. Germany's DAX performance index dropped below 9,000 points shortly after the opening bell and is now trading down 5.6%.

"Measures that central banks and governments are putting in place to really help prop up the economy aren't convincing investors," DW's financial correspondent Chelsea Dulaney said.

07:56 Bahrain reports first death from the coronavirus, the first in the Persian Gulf.

07:37 The British government will make further announcements Monday about measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, according to Reuters news agency.

07:30 The International Airlines Group, the owner of British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, said it would cut its flying capacity by at least 75% in April and May. It also said that Willie Walsh, it's outgoing chief executive, would defer his retirement. EasyJet also said it could ground a majority of its fleet on a rolling basis.

07:29 Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will impose an "enhanced community quarantine" across the country's main island of Luzon.

07:24 French President Emmanuel Macron will discuss the coronavirus and border controls on Monday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel, Macron's office said.

07:24 China's foreign ministry said that imported coronavirus cases involving travelers from abroad have now become the main risk.

07:00 Germany's border closures with France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria and Denmark have come into effect. Commuters and trucks carrying goods will still be able to pass. German citizens in those countries will still be able to return home.

According to DW's Bernd Riegert, policemen at the border between Saarbrücken in Germany and Forbach in France are asking drivers questions such as "Where are you going?" and "what is the purpose of your visit?" The officers are not wearing face masks or other protective gear.

"This is also a makeshift operation because there haven't been border facilities here in 35 years," Riegert said.

Many drivers told DW that, while they understand the purpose of this measure, they are still afraid to get the virus, whether on the French side of the border or the German side.

"The German administration is hoping that infection lines can be broken because of this and that social contacts are slowed down," Riegert said. "But there are also critics that say this is not true because (the virus) is already there."

06:34 Mexico's health ministry has rejected media reports that the country has registered its first coronavirus death. Veteran broadcaster Joaquin Lopez-Doriga said on Twitter that businessman Jose Kuri had died after testing positive for the virus following a trip to the US. The health ministry said Kuri was still alive but in critical condition.

05:32 Australia's main ASX 200 index fell 537.30 points to 5,002.00, a 9.7% drop. It is the largest ever percentage drop for the benchmark index. According to Reuters news agency, the Australian government is now contemplating "scaling up" its 17.6 billion-Australian-dollar ($11.4 billion, €9.8 billion) stimulus package.

05:09 The Bank of Japan unveiled a series of emergency monetary policies in an attempt to boost the world's third largest economy amid the coronavirus outbreak. The policies include expanding purchases of stock, corporate bonds and other assets. The United States Federal Reserve announced similar measures on Thursday. The news led to a slight bump in Japan's benchmark Nikkei index, but it still finished 2.46% lower.

04:38 Like a number of other countries and cities across the globe, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has banned gatherings of more than 500 people. Ardern said educational institutions will be exempt from the mass gathering ban for the time being.

04:27 Mexico has experienced its first death due to the new coronavirus, according to Mexican media reports.

03:59 A supermarket chain in Australia will start opening its doors exclusively to customers over 60-years-old for one hour a day. The policy is set to be implemented in an effort to ease the burden of panic-buying on the most vulnerable.

"Woolworths Supermarkets will be opening exclusively for the elderly and those with a disability to shop from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.," the supermarket chain said in a statement.

The policy is expected to come into effect on Tuesday and run for the rest of the week, when the idea will be reevaluated, before being possibly extended.

03:43 Las Vegas has joined a number of other cities across the United States that is imposing measures to restrict contact between citizens. Casinos and hotels, including venues on the city's main strip, will close in an effort to prevent spread of the new coronavirus.

"It is now apparent that this is a public health crisis that requires major collective action if we are to slow its progression," Jim Murren, chairman of MGM Resorts, said in a statement.

"Accordingly, we will close all of our Las Vegas properties as of Tuesday, March 17th, for the good of our employees, guests and communities," Murren said.

03:16 Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has mirrored his New York counterpart by instructing LA's restaurants, bars and night clubs to close in an attempt to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.

Garcetti said: "I'm taking executive action to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in @LACity by closing bars, nightclubs, restaurants (except takeout/delivery), entertainment venues and gyms until March 31 unless extended. Grocery stores will remain open."

02:46 The Peace Corps, a US volunteer program, has announced that it is suspending all global operations and evacuating its workers from several countries. The government organization has already evacuated its workers from China and Mongolia.

02:36 For the first time in decades, China's industrial production, retail sales and investment all contracted. The downturn has been blamed on the coronavirus epidemic which has wreaked havoc on the economy, official data showed.

Industrial production for January and February dropped 13.5%, the first contraction in around 30 years.

Meanwhile, investment has shrunk 24.5% and retail plunged 20.5%.

02:29 New York has imposed a take-out only policy on all its bars and restaurants.

"I will sign an Executive Order limiting restaurants, bars and cafes to food take-out and delivery," city mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.

New York has already put a limit on gatherings to 500 people and therefore "nightclubs, movie theaters, small theater houses, and concert venues must all close," de Blasio added.

"The virus can spread rapidly through the close interactions New Yorkers have in restaurants, bars and places where we sit close together," de Blasio said. "We have to break that cycle."

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

02:16 Peru has declared a state of emergency due to the new coronavirus.

"The measures, which will last 15 calendar days, imply compulsory social isolation of our population," Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra said in a televised message. "During the state of emergency, constitutionally guaranteed rights will be reduced," Vizcarra said, specifying that citizens would only be allowed to leave their homes to access essential services.

"During the state of emergency borders will be completely closed," Vizcarra said, adding that the border closure will affect people but not goods.

The Peruvian president said that his country has had 71 cases thus far.

02:05 Cambodia has reported a four-month-old baby among its daily figure of novel coronavirus infections. It now has a tally of 12, up four on the day before.

01:22 South Korea has reported 74 new coronavirus cases.

The Asian nation has been experiencing a downward trend in new cases and the latest numbers are significantly lower than the peak of 909 cases reported on February 29 and slightly down from the 76 reported the previous day.

01:08 The Argentinian government has announced a 15-day entry ban on all visitors to the Latin American country. "At the moment we know that all of our cases are imported, and we have to do all we can to prevent the virus from transmitting locally," President Alberto Fernandez said in a press conference as he announced a series of "drastic measures."

"For the next 15 days — a period that can be extended — Argentina's borders will be closed," Fernandez said. "Nobody will be able to enter Argentina, except of course Argentinian natives or foreigners who live in Argentina."

Among the new measures, the president also said that schools would be closed until the end of the months and that theaters and cinemas would also remain shut. Thus far, Argentina has had roughly 50 cases and two deaths from the virus.

00:56 Following the US Federal Reserve's decision to slash interest rates to salvage an economy unraveling rapidly amid the pandemic, the central bank's chair, Jerome Powell, held a press conference to explain the actions. Powell told reporters: "We thought it was quite important for us to take strong measures to support proper market functioning in important markets."

He also said that it was difficult to predict the impact of the coronavirus on the economy, both in the short and long term. "It's very hard to say how big the effects will be or how long they will last. That's going to depend of course on how widely the virus spreads, which is something that is highly uncertain and I would say, in fact, unknowable."

Watch video 01:52 Share Germany nixes vaccine for US Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3ZUQL US, Germany said to tussle over coronavirus vaccine

00:45 The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) — home to the capital city of Canberra and the country's second most populous state, Victoria — have declared a state of emergency while large, non-essential gatherings have been banned in a bid to stem the spread after the national death toll rose to five.

Australia has nearly 300 cases and authorities are fearing a rapid rise, hence the new measures.

00:39 While the rest of the globe continues to reel from the outbreak, China's downward trend of cases continued, with 16 new confirmed infections, down from 20 the previous day, the National Health Commission has said.

The total number of confirmed cases in China so far is 80,860. The death toll from the outbreak is 3,213.

00:32 Latin America is the latest part of the world to begin to suffer from COVID-19. Colombia has reported 34 cases, Brazil's soccer confederation has suspended all competitions due to the outbreak after almost 200 confirmed infections, while Costa Rica reported its worst day so far on Sunday.

00:24 US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has lambasted Donald Trump's handling of the crisis. Sanders said during his joust with fellow Democratic candidate Joe Biden that Trump needs to stop "blabbering" with inaccurate information about the coronavirus. Trump is "undermining" the scientific experts and "confusing the general public" with his comments, Sanders added.

00:21 With the latest on how the deadly virus is affecting the sporting world, click here.

00:06 Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has requested a "collective quarantine" for seven states, including the capital Caracas, from Monday, to halt the spread of COVID-19.

"It's a collective quarantine that deserves great social discipline, great self-control," said Maduro, adding that it meant people should stay "at home." Maduro said this was "the only way, there's no other option," to stem the spread.

"The only way to contain the channels of transmission is to enter in a... drastic phase of collective quarantine throughout the country," he said.

00:01 German travel company TUI Group is suspending the "vast majority of all travel operations until further notice. This temporary suspension is aimed at contributing to global governmental efforts to mitigate the effects of the spread of the COVID-19."

Germany now has 4,838 confirmed coronavirus cases, a jump of over 1,000 compared to Saturday. The virus has so far killed 12 people, according to the Robert Koch Institute.

Watch video 02:10 Share Uneven coronavirus response Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3ZSsE Coronavirus response varies greatly around the world

kmm, dv, jsi/ng (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)

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