The NHS has told people returning from anywhere in Italy to self-isolate if they have symptoms of coronavirus.

Italy is the worst-affected nation in Europe, where the number of dead in the outbreak has risen from 107 to 148 in a single day. It is also the highest death toll outside China.

People returning to the UK from Italy had previously been told to self-isolate only if they had been in the north of the country and were showing symptoms.

The Italian government has ordered all schools and universities to close until at least 15 March, with all public gatherings banned and cinemas and theatres told to shut. There have been at least 3,858 infections in the country.

The government has placed temporary restrictions on people visiting relatives in nursing homes and is urging the elderly not to go outside unless absolutely necessary.


France

Three more people have died from coronavirus, taking the total to seven, while the number of confirmed infections rose by 138 to 423, including 23 people who are in a very serious condition.

President Emmanuel Macron said it appeared "inevitable" the outbreak will develop into an epidemic in France.

United States

The number of dead in the whole of the country stands at 12, including 11 in the Seattle area, where there have been at least 39 confirmed COVID-19 infections.

In Washington DC, the Senate passed an $8.3bn (£6.3bn) measure to help tackle the outbreak.

Federal public health agencies would get money for vaccines, tests and potential treatments, including $300m (£228m) to deliver such drugs to those who need it.

More than $2bn (£1.52bn) would go to help federal, state and local governments prepare for and respond to the coronavirus threat. An extra $1.3bn (£1bn) would be used to help fight the virus overseas.

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A school district north of Seattle with 22,000 students will close for up to two weeks because of coronavirus concerns.

All 26 schools in the Northshore School District will be shut to prevent the spread of the virus. The district is largely in Bothell, Washington, 20 miles north of Seattle.

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, in New York state has doubled from 11 to 22.

What the UK can learn from China and Italy

Iran

Iran, which more than 100 registered virus deaths - the second highest outside China - has closed schools and universities.

It has also introduced checkpoints to limit travel between major cities. Iranians have been urged to reduce their use of paper money.

President Hassan Rouhani told state television to show "happier" programmes to entertain those stuck at home.

"I urge all artists, scientists, psychologists and all who can bring smiles to people's faces, come into the social media," he said.

Image: A worker disinfects a street in Iran's capital Tehran

Russia

Moscow authorities have announced a "high alert regime" and imposed extra measures to prevent a spread of the coronavirus in the Russian capital.

Russians who return from China, South Korea, Iran, France, Germany, Italy and Spain and who show signs of coronavirus should self-isolate themselves at home for 14 days.

Russia has not reported any confirmed cases of people contracting coronavirus in the country, although six who picked up the virus elsewhere have received or are getting treatment.

South Africa

It has confirmed its first case, becoming the seventh African nation to report infections.