Italy’s government ordered all schools in the country to close until March 15, as part of an escalating effort to contain the worst coronavirus outbreak outside Asia.

The closure, announced Wednesday, expands a school suspension already in place in northern Italy and will force some 8.4 million students across the country to stay at home. Teachers are encouraged to give lessons remotely. Universities are closing too.

The government also unveiled other measures that include spectator-free soccer matches and other bans on public gatherings across the country, including in cinemas and theaters, until April 3. Officials have even appealed to Italians not to hug and kiss when they meet. Senior citizens are encouraged to stay at home.

“We’re focused on adopting all measures to contain or slow down the virus, because we have a health-care system that, however good and efficient it may be, risks being overloaded,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said.

Italy’s mounting shutdowns and restrictions reflect growing concern that the country is so far failing to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.