10 March
Italy has taken the unprecedented step of putting the entire country under lockdown as nations around the world try to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the new measures begin on Tuesday and continue until April 3. He said individuals should only go out if they have work or health-related issues to deal with or if they have other pressing needs. People are also banned from gathering outdoors. Schools are closed and restaurants will close at 6 p.m.
In Italy, 463 people have died from the new coronavirus and nearly 9,200 have been infected. The eurozone's third-largest economy, with a population of 60 million, now has the second-highest number of cases outside of mainland China.
On Sunday and Monday, inmates in the country's prisons rioted after visiting rights were restricted due to the virus. The Justice Ministry said seven inmates died.
France, Germany and Spain have now each confirmed more than 1,000 cases.
In mainland China, the government began suspending visa waivers for Japanese travelers who are in China for no more than 15 days for sightseeing purposes.
Visas will continue to be waived for those who are visiting the country for short-term business or to see family, but they will need to present documents issued by their recipients in China.
China is already asking travelers from Japan arriving in Beijing, Shanghai, and other major cities to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine.
Newly-confirmed cases in mainland China have slowed in recent weeks. The total number of infections is currently around 81,000.
Outside of China and Japan, there are over 30,000 confirmed infections and more than 830 deaths have been reported around the world.
NHK
