Coronavirus: Borders close around Europe as death toll surges in Italy and Spain

More than 100 million people already in lockdown as daily life grinds to a halt

Border closures and travel restrictions have been imposed across Europe in an attempt to slow the coronavirus pandemic, as the death toll in Italy surged past 1,800.

Italian authorities confirmed on Sunday another 368 people had died – a 25 per cent increase in 24 hours – as the total number of confirmed cases approached 25,000.

In Spain, which entered the first day of a nationwide quarantine, the death toll more than doubled to 288. Army specialists in protective suits sprayed disinfectant in train stations and police in surgical masks ordered casual strollers to go home as long lines of people queued for food.

With Italy’s own countrywide restrictions now nearly a week old, more than 105 million people are in lockdown in Europe – with other countries set to follow in the coming days or weeks.

The UK, which has not yet restricted everyday activities, said it plans to set out emergency powers this week, as food retailers appealed to the public to stop panic buying toilet roll and other essentials.

Hundreds of British tourists remain stranded on a cruise ship in the Caribbean after four crew and one passenger tested positive for coronavirus last week. Both Barbados and The Bahamas have refused to allow people to disembark the MS Braemar, which faces making the 10-day journey to Southampton if it cannot negotiate entry to a nearby port.

The cruise line company Fred Olsen sought to reassure relatives by issuing a statement confirming the bars were still open and all passengers had been given a complementary all-inclusive drinks package.

In France, where most shops, cafes and restaurants were closed on Sunday, the government is reportedly preparing an order that requires people to stay in their homes.

Germany is set to close its borders with France, Austria and Switzerland from Monday in an attempt to both contain the epidemic and prevent bulk purchases of goods by foreigners.

Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz also announced plans to limit movement nationwide. He said people should go out “only alone or with the people who live in their apartment.” Poland and Lithuania are also shutting their borders.

Meanwhile, the Irish government has urged all bars to close for two weeks – including St Patrick’s Day – and warned people not to hold house parties.

Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, said it was an “essential public health measure given the reports of reckless behaviour by some members of the public in certain pubs last night”.

The Netherlands ordered the closure of all schools, daycare centres, restaurants, bars, “coffee shops” selling marijuana and sex clubs until 6 April, while Turkey said bars and nightclubs will be closed from Monday.

Elsewhere, Morocco suspended all international flights, Senegal banned all public gatherings for a month, and Muslim authorities announced that Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, would be closed indefinitely.

Additional reporting by agencies