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| Coronavirus: Austria bans most gatherings as restrictions tighten | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Austria is to ban gatherings of more than five people from Monday, as efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus in Europe step up. | |
| Romania is set to declare a state of emergency, and the Czech PM said he was likely to declare a quarantine for the whole country. | Romania is set to declare a state of emergency, and the Czech PM said he was likely to declare a quarantine for the whole country. |
| The moves follow draconian measures taken by France and Spain on Saturday. | The moves follow draconian measures taken by France and Spain on Saturday. |
| But France is holding local elections, despite the shutting of cafes, restaurants and most shops. | |
| Italy, which has recorded more than 1,440 deaths, began a nationwide lockdown on Monday. | Italy, which has recorded more than 1,440 deaths, began a nationwide lockdown on Monday. |
| The Czech Republic and Slovakia have already closed their borders. | The Czech Republic and Slovakia have already closed their borders. |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that Europe was now the "epicentre" of the pandemic. | The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that Europe was now the "epicentre" of the pandemic. |
| WHO head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged countries to use aggressive measures, community mobilisation and social distancing to save lives. | WHO head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged countries to use aggressive measures, community mobilisation and social distancing to save lives. |
| France veers towards the Chinese model | France veers towards the Chinese model |
| Debate is raging in France about what is the better model for tackling Covid-19 - the Chinese or the British. The Chinese have taken a radical system of confinement for limiting the spread - the UK is adopting a "herd immunity" approach, according to which infection of a majority is inevitable and even, if properly handled, to be welcomed. | Debate is raging in France about what is the better model for tackling Covid-19 - the Chinese or the British. The Chinese have taken a radical system of confinement for limiting the spread - the UK is adopting a "herd immunity" approach, according to which infection of a majority is inevitable and even, if properly handled, to be welcomed. |
| Up until a couple of days ago, it seemed France leaned more to the "herd" philosophy. As in Britain, the official view favoured a controlled propagation - buying time so that the wave of infections is drawn out over a long period, and hospitals are not overwhelmed. | Up until a couple of days ago, it seemed France leaned more to the "herd" philosophy. As in Britain, the official view favoured a controlled propagation - buying time so that the wave of infections is drawn out over a long period, and hospitals are not overwhelmed. |
| But now, suddenly, there is a shift in the other direction. First schools, then cafes, restaurants and all non-essential shops are to be closed. It seems the government now thinks Chinese- and Italian-style - draconianism is more appropriate. Except when to comes to the municipal elections, which are going ahead as planned. | But now, suddenly, there is a shift in the other direction. First schools, then cafes, restaurants and all non-essential shops are to be closed. It seems the government now thinks Chinese- and Italian-style - draconianism is more appropriate. Except when to comes to the municipal elections, which are going ahead as planned. |
| If it all feels not a little improvised, that is perhaps excusable. We have, after all, never seen anything like this before. | If it all feels not a little improvised, that is perhaps excusable. We have, after all, never seen anything like this before. |
| What are the latest measures? | What are the latest measures? |
| Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz urged people to self-isolate and banned gatherings of more than five people as of Monday. | Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz urged people to self-isolate and banned gatherings of more than five people as of Monday. |
| He added the UK, the Netherlands, Russia and Ukraine to a list of countries, entry to whose citizens is restricted. | He added the UK, the Netherlands, Russia and Ukraine to a list of countries, entry to whose citizens is restricted. |
| Schools and most shops will be closed from Monday, following an earlier announcement. | Schools and most shops will be closed from Monday, following an earlier announcement. |
| Meanwhile, the prime minister of the neighbouring Czech Republic, Andrej Babis, said in a TV interview he would propose to government that the entire country should be put under quarantine. | Meanwhile, the prime minister of the neighbouring Czech Republic, Andrej Babis, said in a TV interview he would propose to government that the entire country should be put under quarantine. |
| He said the number of cases in the country had risen from 214 to 231, with no fatalities. | He said the number of cases in the country had risen from 214 to 231, with no fatalities. |
| Romania, which has 123 cases, is set to declare a state of emergency on Monday. | Romania, which has 123 cases, is set to declare a state of emergency on Monday. |
| On Saturday Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said citizens should not leave home, except for buying essential supplies and medicines, or for work. | On Saturday Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said citizens should not leave home, except for buying essential supplies and medicines, or for work. |
| The state of emergency there will last for two weeks - more if deemed necessary and parliament approves. | The state of emergency there will last for two weeks - more if deemed necessary and parliament approves. |
| With 191 deaths, Spain is Europe's worst-hit country after Italy. | With 191 deaths, Spain is Europe's worst-hit country after Italy. |
| In France the closure - which went into force at 23:00 GMT on Saturday - applies to restaurants, cafes, cinemas and nightclubs as well as non-essential businesses. | In France the closure - which went into force at 23:00 GMT on Saturday - applies to restaurants, cafes, cinemas and nightclubs as well as non-essential businesses. |
| Prime Minister Édouard Philippe also asked people to reduce their travel, especially between towns. | Prime Minister Édouard Philippe also asked people to reduce their travel, especially between towns. |
| France, with a population of 63.5 million people, has reported more than 4,400 confirmed cases after a sharp rise on Saturday. It recorded 12 more deaths, bringing the toll to 79. | France, with a population of 63.5 million people, has reported more than 4,400 confirmed cases after a sharp rise on Saturday. It recorded 12 more deaths, bringing the toll to 79. |
| Are you in France, Spain or Austria? Have you been affected by the coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in France, Spain or Austria? Have you been affected by the coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |