Europeans impose sweeping measures

Madrid－Spain will shut all schools in the Madrid region for two weeks and send 1.2 million pupils home from Wednesday as the country starts to follow Italy's lead in taking drastic measures to try to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The virus has spread to more than 30 European countries and has infected about 14,000 people.

In Italy, the country hit worst, 9,172 cases of infection and 463 deaths had been reported by Monday.

Cyprus reported its first two confirmed cases, meaning all 27 European Union member states have now reported infections.

The country's largest medical facility suspended most services on Tuesday after a doctor heading the heart surgery ward tested positive for coronavirus, authorities said.

In Spain, 28 people have died as a result of the novel coronavirus, with the number of cases rising to 1,204 on Monday, one of the highest numbers in Europe.

The Madrid shutdown includes nurseries and vocational training centers, primary and secondary schools and universities. The elderly and people with chronic illnesses are being advised to stay at home.

Schools and universities in the Basque capital, Vitoria, will also close for two weeks, sending tens of thousands of pupils home.

"These measures imply a disruption to normal activity in these places, but I appeal for your understanding as they are measures that we consider necessary in these areas," Health Minister Salvador Illa said.

The wine-growing region of La Rioja also ordered all schools to close down, a local health authority spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

The Czech Republic will also suspend schools other than universities from Wednesday, and ban events hosting more than 100 people, as the government steps up measures to contain the spread of the virus, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Tuesday. The country had reported 40 cases by then.

Germany on Monday confirmed its first two deaths from the coronavirus as its overall number of new infections rose to 1,139, the latest signs that the epidemic is spreading rapidly in Europe's largest economy.

The death toll in France from the coronavirus outbreak has risen to 30 from 25 a day earlier, the French public health authority said on Tuesday.

France's Minister of Culture, Franck Riester, had tested positive for coronavirus but was in good condition at home, BFM television reported on Monday.

Last week he attended several debate sessions at the National Assembly in Paris, where several coronavirus-positive cases have been confirmed, BFM said.

Move to 'delay phase'

In Britain the novel coronavirus death toll reached five on Monday. There were 319 confirmed cases, 47 more than 24 hours earlier.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said the government is making extensive preparations for additional measures to tackle the virus.

The country remained in the "contain phase" but the government was preparing to move to the "delay phase", he said.

The government will set out further steps in the days and weeks ahead to help protect people, particularly the elderly, Johnson said.

Julian Shea in London, Xinhua and agencies contributed to this story.