(Reuters) - Coronavirus cases ballooned in Europe, prompting more lockdown measures to try to slow the spread. New Jersey’s governor followed four other U.S. states that have imposed unprecedented restrictions. Australia announced it was shutting a large array of businesses from Monday.
DEATHS, INFECTIONS
* More than 305,000 people have been infected across the world and more than 13,000 have died according to a Reuters tally.
* For an interactive graphic tracking global spread: open tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser
EUROPE
* In its latest desperate effort to halt the epidemic the Italian government ordered that all businesses must close until April 3, with the exception of those essential to maintaining the country’s supply chain.
* Italy recorded a jump in deaths from coronavirus of almost 800 on Saturday, taking the toll in the world’s hardest-hit country to almost 5,000.
* Spanish media said the government wants to extend for another 15 days a 15-day state of emergency imposed this month to try to curb the spread. Spain’s death toll soared to 1,720 on Sunday from 1,326 the day before, according to multiple media outlets citing the latest health data.
* British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country’s National Health Service (NHS) could be “overwhelmed” by the coronavirus like the Italian health system in just two weeks.
AMERICAS
* Nearly 1 in 4 Americans were under orders to close up shop and stay at home on Saturday.
* At least 23,941 cases of the novel coronavirus have been reported in the United States and 306 people have died from the COVID-19 disease as of Saturday evening, according to a Reuters tally of state and local government websites.
* Bolivia’s interim government announced it would postpone
