VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

(Reuters)

France and Spain joined Italy in imposing lockdowns on tens of millions of people, Australia ordered self-isolation of arriving foreigners and other countries extended entry bans as the world sought to contain the spreading coronavirus.

Panic buying in Australia, the United States and Britain saw leaders appeal for calm over the virus that has infected over 156,000 people globally and killed more than 5,800.

Several countries imposed bans on mass gathering, shuttered sporting, cultural and religious events, while medical experts urged people to practice “social distancing” to curb the spread.

Austria’s chancellor urged people to self-isolate and announced bans on gatherings of more than five people and further limits on who can enter the country.

All of Pope Francis’ Easter services next month will be held without the faithful attending, the Vatican said on Sunday, in a step believed to be unprecedented in modern times.

The services, four days of major events from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, usually draw tens of thousands of people to sites in Rome and in the Vatican.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said from midnight Sunday international travelers arriving in the country would need to isolate themselves for 14 days, and foreign cruise ships would be banned for 30 days, given a rise in imported cases.

Australia’s latest restrictions mirror those announced by neighboring New Zealand on Saturday.

The three states bearing the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic in Europe have all recorded their highest death tolls for a single day.

Italy saw 368 deaths bring its total to 1,809, Spain recorded 97 more deaths for a total of 288, and France reported 29 deaths, giving a total of 120. The UK also saw a single-day record.with 14 new deaths and a total of 35.

Governments across Europe have responded by curbing the movements of citizens and tightening borders. Germany is to impose controls on its borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark and Luxembourg as of Monday morning, while Portugal will clamp down on its frontier with Spain.

The Czech government has introduced stringent lockdown measures: people will be allowed to go to and from work and buy food or medicine, and make urgent family visits, but otherwise free movement will be severely limited from midnight (23:00 GMT) on Sunday until 24 March.

Austria is banning gatherings of more than five people from Monday, and the Republic of Ireland is asking pubs to shut until 29 March.

Schools will be closed across many European states.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has now declared Europe the epicenter of the pandemic which originated in China. (BBC)

New York City is closing schools on Monday, and restaurants, bars and other venues a day later in an effort to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said he decided to act because "our city is facing an unprecedented threat, and we must respond with a wartime mentality".

Separately,  the US is extending its European travel ban to include the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The US has confirmed 69 deaths linked to the pandemic and 3,774 infections.

New York City - which has the population of more than eight million - has recorded five deaths. Each of the victims - aged 53 to 82 - had underlying health conditions, officials say.

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President Donald Trump has said the US has "a tremendous testing set up where people coming in have to be tested".

Correspondents say there is a growing sense of unease and confusion in America, with fears of a run on hospital beds and concern about childcare as tens of millions of children are sent home from school. (BBC)

Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his ministers on Sunday underwent medical checks for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Sunday, following a finding that one of his ministers, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, tested positive for the virus.

"All (of the ministers have been checked), (My turn is) this afternoon," Jokowi said at the Bogor presidential palace, West Java, on Sunday.

To date, 96 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Indonesia with five people dead, and eight recovered. They spread in Jakarta, Tangerang, Bandung, Solo, Yogyakarta, Bali, Manado, and Pontianak.

"This morning, the tests were conducted for the ministers. For the results, ask the Health Minister," the President added.

Home Affairs Minister Tito karnavian took the test at Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Jakarta on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. local time.

Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, the 76th case of the COVID-19  in the country, is currently being treated in an isolation room at RSPAD Gatot Subroto, and his condition is improving.

Several days before testing positive for COVID-19, the minister had attended a ministerial cabinet meeting led by Jokowi. (ANTARA)