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| - Quarantine, schools closed, gatherings banned, here are the main measures being taken in Europe, at a national or local level, to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus. Italy, the worst affected country in Europe, has told its 60 million population to "stay at home" until April 3, allowing travel only for extremely urgent work or health reasons. Romania has advised its citizens working in Italy against returning home for Easter. Those who do will be quarantined. Austrians in Italy will be repatriated and confined. People returning from the main coronavirus hotspots must stay at home for two weeks in Croatia, Latvia, and Slovakia. Also in Moscow, where they face up to five years in jail if they cause someone's death. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has placed himself in quarantine for two weeks as a precaution, as has the speaker of the European Parliament David Sassoli, an Italian. Austria has suspended rail links and demands health certificates from travellers arriving from Italy. Slovenia will adopt the same vetting system at its border. Albania, Austria, Greece, Hungary, Romania and Spain, along with several airlines, have suspended all air traffic with Italy. In Italy, all schools and universities are closed until April 3 and up to March 25 in Greece and Poland. Educational establishments are also closed in Romania and the Czech Republic, and are to be from Thursday in Ukraine. Other countries have opted for school closures at a local level for two weeks, including the Madrid region and those in France worst hit by the coronavirus. Several countries ban gatherings of more than 1,000 people, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, and the Spanish regions of Catalonia and Madrid. Some set the bar a lot lower: Austria and Hungary have banned indoor meetings of more than 100 people and those bringing 500 people together outdoors. The Czech Republic sets the threshold at 100 people. In Italy, as well as Cyprus, all public gatherings are prohibited. As a result, many cultural events have been cancelled or postponed. Museums are closed in Italy, Austria and Romania. In sports, Italy's football league is suspended while French and Spanish league games are taking place in empty stadiums. Denmark and Russia have recommended avoiding public transport at rush hour. In Spain's Madrid region, suburban metros, buses and trains are to be disinfected every day. The Bank of England announced a surprise cut in its interest rate, several days after a similar decision by the US Federal Reserve Bank. The British government also unveiled a support package worth £30 billion ($39 billion, 34.4 billion euros). Italy has earmarked up to 25 billion euros ($28.3 billion) to fight the epidemic. The European Union says it is working on a new investment fund. France and Germany have taken steps to allow easier access to top-up pay for workers placed on reduced schedules. Austria has unblocked 100 million euros to support tourism and 10 million euros for small- and medium-sized businesses. In Slovakia the government is to provide a billion euros to help businesses. In Greece, the health ministry's budget is to be increased by 15 million euros. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has suspended all meetings until March 20, after one of its staff in Geneva contracted the coronavirus. On Tuesday, leaders of the 27-nation European Union held their first ever video summit, on the virus crisis. burs-ang-kd-mw/jmy/wai
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