Coronavirus: main measures taken in Europe

• Austria and the Czech Republic have also taken strict confinement measures.
• German citizens also have to "stay at home", and not go on holiday.
• Germany has stepped up border controls with several countries, including France, which has reciprocated, only allowing through goods transport and border workers.

PARIS: Confinements, schools, shops and borders closed, gatherings banned. Here are the main measures being taken in Europe to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Confinement

Belgium followed Italy, Spain and France in ordering on Wednesday its citizens to stay at home until April 5, except for medical attention, getting exercise or working in businesses deemed essential.

Austria and the Czech Republic have also taken strict confinement measures.

German citizens also have to "stay at home", and not go on holiday.

Britons have been told to avoid "non-essential contact" and travel. Elderly people and pregnant women there are advised to go into isolation for three months.

Greece and Italy have imposed a 14-day quarantine on all arrivals. Athens has also applied confinement measures in camps for migrants.

People returning from the main coronavirus hotspots must stay at home for two weeks in Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Norway, Russia and Slovakia.

Borders controlled, closed

European Union leaders agreed on Tuesday to impose an entry ban on travellers from outside the bloc for 30 days.

Germany as a result suspended Syrian refugee intake programmes including a deal with Turkey.

Hungary and Spain have closed their land borders.

On Wednesday, Turkey closed its borders with Greece and Bulgaria.

Germany has stepped up border controls with several countries, including France, which has reciprocated, only allowing through goods transport and border workers.

Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Lithuania and Slovakia have closed their borders to foreigners, with Slovakia excepting Poles.

Russia has closed its land borders with Norway and Poland.

Austria has closed its border with Italy and Switzerland.

Schools closed

Schools, universities and creches are closed in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal,  Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine. In Sweden only high schools and universities are closed.

Gatherings banned

In Belgium, Cyprus, France and Italy all gatherings are banned.

Different countries have set widely different caps on the number of people who can get together.

In Turkey, collective prayers are suspended and places of worship closed.

Businesses closed

Austria, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Ukraine have ordered the closure of all places and shops admitting the public.

Non-essential shops are closed in Andorra, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Spain.

Restaurants, bars, nightclubs and cinemas are closed all over Europe including pubs in Ireland and brothels in the Netherlands.

Hungary has closed public places but not shops, while Greece has closed its museums and archaeological sites.

Transport disrupted

Britain has grounded most of its air fleet.

France has announced a gradual reduction of long-distance transport, including buses, planes and trains.

Poland has cancelled all domestic flights.

Austria has suspended rail links with Italy and air links with Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine.

Turkey has suspended air links with six countries, Bulgaria with Italy and Spain, and Romania with Italy.

Slovenia has halted public transport.