Spain has announced it is placing its 47m citizens under partial lockdown for 15 days – the latest nation to turn to increasingly stringent measures to try and halt the spread of coronavirus.

As the total global number of deaths from the disease topped 5,000 and infections passed 140,000, Spain’s prime minister said people would be required to stay at home.

The only exceptions would be for people to buy food and medicine, or go to work.

“I want to tell the workers, the self-employed, and businesses that the government of Spain is going to do everything in its power to cushion the effects of this crisis,” prime minister Pedro Sanchez said on Saturday in a televised address.

“From now we enter into a new phase. We won’t hesitate in doing what we must to beat the virus. We are putting health first.”

The move by the authorities in Madrid were similar to those taken in Italy, after both nations failed to confine the virus to a regional outbreak.

Health authorities said on Saturday that coronavirus infections had reached 5,753 people, half of them in Madrid, since the first case was detected in Spain in late January. That represented a national increase of over 1,500 in 24 hours.

Mr Sanchez said all police forces, including those run by local authorities, would be put under the orders of the interior minister and that the armed forces were on stand-by.

“At any moment, when it is necessary, we can count on the deployment of the armed forces. The army is ready,” he said.

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According to the government decree, people will only be allowed to leave their homes to buy food and medicine, commute to work, go to medical centres and banks, or take trips related to the care for the elderly, the young, and dependents. Those limitations were effective immediately.

It is also closing all restaurants, bars, hotels, schools and universities nationwide, and other non-essential retail outlets, a move some of its hardest-hit communities have already carried out.

The state of emergency also gives the government the power to take control of private hospitals to reinforce its large public health service that is being pushed to the brink in the capital and other areas.

All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Show all 19 1 /19 All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Women members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation, drink tea made with cow urine during a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, by consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus, organised by ABHM's president Chakrapani Maharaj on 14 March 2020 in New Delhi India Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Women members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation, drink tea made with cow urine during a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, by consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus, organised by ABHM's president Chakrapani Maharaj on 14 March 2020 in New Delhi, India Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Women members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation, drink tea made with cow urine during a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, by consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus, organised by ABHM's president Chakrapani Maharaj on 14 March 2020 in New Delhi, India Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party : Members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation hold earthen pots containing cow urine before drinking it as they attend a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, by consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus, organised by ABHM's president Chakrapani Maharaj on 14 March 2020 in New Delhi, India Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation pour cow urine into cups before drinking it as they attend a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, by consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus, organised by ABHM's president Chakrapani Maharaj on 14 March 2020 in New Delhi India. Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 14: Members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation, drink cow urine as they attend a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, organised by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha's president Chakrapani Maharaj on March 14, 2020 in New Delhi, India. Many members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party have in the past claimed that cow urine and cow dung had medicinal properties and can cure deadly ailments like cancer. As the number of Covid-19 cases surge in various provinces of India a lawmaker from Modi's right wing Hindu nationalist party told the legislative house in northeastern state of Assam that cow urine and cow dung could cure the deadly coronavirus which has led to over 5,000 deaths globally. Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 14: Members and supporters of 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' (ABHM) a Hindu organisation, hold earthen cups containing cow urine before drinking it as they attend a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, organised by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha's president Chakrapani Maharaj on March 14, 2020 in New Delhi, India. Many members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party have in the past claimed that cow urine and cow dung had medicinal properties and can cure deadly ailments like cancer. As the number of Covid-19 cases surge in various provinces of India a lawmaker from Modi's right wing Hindu nationalist party told the legislative house in northeastern state of Assam that cow urine and cow dung could cure the deadly coronavirus which has led to over 5,000 deaths globally. Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 14: A member and supporter of the Hindu organisation 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' drinks cow urine as a potential cure for the new coronavirus as he attends a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, organised by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha's president Chakrapani Maharaj on March 14, 2020 in New Delhi, India. Many members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party have in the past claimed that cow urine and cow dung had medicinal properties and can cure deadly ailments like cancer. As the number of Covid-19 cases surge in various provinces of India a lawmaker from Modi's right wing Hindu nationalist party told the legislative house in northeastern state of Assam that cow urine and cow dung could cure the deadly coronavirus which has led to over 5,000 deaths globally Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party NEW DELHI, INDIA - MARCH 14: A member and supporters of Hindu organisation 'Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha' drinks cow urine as a potential cure for the new coronavirus as he attends a 'gaumutra (cow urine) party' to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, organised by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha's president Chakrapani Maharaj on March 14, 2020 in New Delhi, India. Many members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party have in the past claimed that cow urine and cow dung had medicinal properties and can cure deadly ailments like cancer. As the number of Covid-19 cases surge in various provinces of India a lawmaker from Modi's right wing Hindu nationalist party told the legislative house in northeastern state of Assam that cow urine and cow dung could cure the deadly coronavirus which has led to over 5,000 deaths globally Yawar Nazir/Getty Images All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party epa08293595 Hindu Mahasabha chief Chakrapani Maharaj(R) along with others drink cow urine during the Gaumutra party or Cow urine party organised by Hindu Mahasabha which they claim neutralizes the effect of Coronavirus COVID19 in New Delhi, India, 14 March 2020. Reports state all existing visas issued to nationals of any country except those issued to diplomats, officials, UN/International organizations, employment, project visas stand suspended until 15 April 2020 and all incoming travelers including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after 15 February 2020 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days in view of 83 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India. Rajat Gupta/EPA All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Cups filled with cow urine are served during the Gaumutra party or Cow urine party organized by Hindu Mahasabha which they claim neutralises the effect of Coronavirus COVID19 in New Delhi, India, 14 March 2020 Rajat Gupta/EPA All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party epa08293593 Hindu Mahasabha chief Chakrapani Maharaj(C) along with others drink cow urine during the Gaumutra party or Cow urine party claims to neutralize the effect of Coronavirus COVID19 organised by Hindu Mahasabha in New Delhi, India, 14 March 2020. Reports state all existing visas issued to nationals of any country except those issued to diplomats, officials, UN/International organizations, employment, project visas stand suspended until 15 April 2020 and all incoming travelers including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after 15 February 2020 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days in view of 83 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India. Rajat Gupta/EPA All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party An Indian Hindu woman drinks cow urine during an event organized by a Hindu religious group to promote consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus in New Delhi, India, Saturday, March 14, 2020. The vast majority of people recover from the new coronavirus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover Altaf Qadri/AP All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Earthen cups filled with cow urine are placed on a table during an event organized by a Hindu religious group to promote consumption of cow urine as a cure for the new coronavirus in New Delhi, India, Saturday, 14 March 2020. The vast majority of people recover from the new coronavirus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. Altaf Qadri/AP All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Members of All India Hindu Mahasabha attend a gaumutra (cow urine) party, which according to them helps in warding off coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi, India 14 March 2020. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party A member of All India Hindu Mahasabha holds an idol of a cow after drinking cow urine during a gaumutra (cow urine) party, which according to them helps in warding off coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi, India 14 March 2020. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Members of All India Hindu Mahasabha serve a traditional drink with cow urine as an ingredient during a gaumutra (cow urine) party, which according to them helps in warding off coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi, India 14 March 2020. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party A policeman stands guard next to a caricature as members of All India Hindu Mahasabha attend a gaumutra (cow urine) party, which according to them helps in warding off coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi, India 14 March 2020. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters All India Hindu Union's Coronavirus 'protection' Party Members of All India Hindu Mahasabha offer cow urine to a caricature of the coronavirus as they attend a gaumutra (cow urine) party, which according to them helps in warding off coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New Delhi, India 14 March 2020. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Spain is the second hardest-hit country in Europe after Italy, with 193 deaths and 6,250 cases so far, public broadcaster TVE said, well up from 120 deaths reported on Friday.

Italy extended the strict restriction on movements from the north to the entire country on March 9 when it registered over 9,000 infections. It then went further on March 11 and closed all retail outlets except some supermarkets and pharmacies.

In the United States, Donald Trump encouraged citizens not to travel and said he was considering possible restrictions.