COVID-19: Latest global developments

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 crisis:

Confinement

France follows Italy and Spain in imposing a strict lockdown, prohibiting all but "necessary movements" for the next two weeks.

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

Britons have been told to avoid "non-essential contact" and travel.

Greece imposes 14 days' quarantine for migrants in camps.

Greece, like Italy, requires anyone entering the country to isolate for 14 days.

Israel bars residents from leaving home for "non-essential" reasons.

Borders controlled or closed

The European Union imposes an entry ban on travellers from outside the bloc for 30 days, German Chancellor Angela Merkel says.

Canada closes its borders to foreigners, except Americans, while Chile and Colombia close their land, maritime and air borders.

Tunisia cuts air and land links.

State of emergency, disaster

Armenia, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Switzerland have declared states of emergency, as have Brazil's two biggest cities, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo and two regions of Ukraine.

Israel takes an emergency measure mandating its internal security agency to collect information about citizens to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

Bosnia declares a state of disaster, empowering the army to build quarantine camps.

Global toll tops 7,800

Since the virus first emerged in late December, 7,842 people have died around the world, out of more than 191,000 cases according to an AFP tally based on official sources at 1900 GMT.

The worst affected countries are mainland China, with 3,226 deaths, out of 80,881 cases, of whom 68,869 have been cured. Italy follows with 2,503 deaths, 31,506 cases, Iran 988 deaths, 16,169 cases, Spain 491 deaths and 11,178 cases and France with 175 deaths and 7,730 cases.

Nightmare scenario

In Britain, scientists say that infections and deaths will spiral and hundreds of thousands could die and the health system be swamped if there is only a focus on delaying and slowing infections.

The government's scientific advisor says a reasonable estimate is 55,000 cases in the country.

EU hopes for vaccine

The president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen says after speaking to a German biotech firm she hopes a vaccine will be available this year.

Factories closed

French car makers Renault and PSA as well as tyre maker Michelin temporarily close down their factories.

German carmaker Volkswagen will close most of its factories in Europe for two to three weeks.

Daimler says it will stop most of its production in Europe.

Places of worship closed

Algeria closes all its mosques and places of worship.

The shrine at Lourdes in southwestern France closes its doors for the first time in its history.

Sports championships postponed

European football's governing body UEFA postpones the European Championship, due to be played in June and July, until 2021. 

In France the Roland-Garros tennis championship is moved to September.

Casinos closed in Las Vegas

Las Vegas closes it famous hotels and casinos for several weeks. -- Agence France-Presse