Covid-18 Coronavirus Pandemic In Europe -- News Updates March 18, 2020

Daily Mail: Italy sees 475 new coronavirus deaths – the highest one-day toll of ANY country – and infections shoot up by 4,207, erasing hopes the rate was slowing

* Italy records the highest one-day death toll of any country since the first case was detected in China
* Civil Protection Agency announces 475 deaths as infections shoot up by more than 4,000 in a day
* The update is a blow to hopes the country's lockdown had slowed the spread of Covid-19
* Italian health chief Silvio Brusaferro urges countrymen: 'Do not give up'
* Number of daily coronavirus cases in Italy had been fairly stagnant in recent days at around 3,500 per day

Italy has recorded the highest one-day official coronavirus death toll since the first case was detected in China late last year.

On Wednesday the country reported 475 new deaths from Covid-19, just a day after it looked like Italian coronavirus infections had started to slow.

Italy's Civil Protection Agency announced 4,207 new cases of Covid-19 today, bringing the the total up from 31,506 to 35,713.

Today's news comes amid hopes the Italian lockdown had slowed the spread of the pandemic.

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Covid-18 Coronavirus Pandemic In Europe -- News Updates March 18, 2020

'We underestimated coronavirus,' EU admits: Ursula von der Leyen says 'measures that seemed drastic two weeks ago need to be taken now' as the bloc shuts its borders -- Daily Mail
Coronavirus: EU entry ban hits travellers as lockdown widens -- BBC
EU closes external borders to slow spread of coronavirus -- France 24
European Union closes borders to most foreign travellers to curb coronavirus pandemic -- ABC News Online
Italy coronavirus deaths rise by record 475 in a day -- BBC
Italy reports 475 new coronavirus deaths, lifting total death toll to 2,978 -- Reuters
Uncounted among coronavirus victims, deaths sweep through Italy's nursing homes -- Reuters
Coronavirus in Italy: Solidarity in the time of disease -- DW
Italy rushes new doctors into service as coronavirus deaths rise above 2,500 -- Reuters
Italy threatens to ban outdoor exercise as coronavirus deaths surge -- Reuters
Germany coronavirus threat raised to 'high' alert -- DW
Coronavirus latest: Merkel speaks of greatest post-war challenge -- DW
Merkel calls coronavirus 'biggest challenge since WW2' -- France 24
Coronavirus: German government to fly home tens of thousands of tourists -- DW
Fearing coronavirus recession, France announces €45 billion in business aid -- France 24
Scramble for the countryside: Parisians flee capital as lockdown begins -- France 24
'Thank you Parisians, don’t bring the virus': plea from rural France -- The Guardian
UK rolls out tougher virus action after dire science warning -- AFP
British schools to close as coronavirus crisis worsens -- Reuters
Panic buying forces British supermarkets to ration food -- Reuters
LATEST: Coronavirus infections in Spain leap 18 percent overnight -- The Local
Wary of official virus claims, Russians brace for worst -- Reuters
Coronavirus: Temporary hospital being built in Moscow -- BBC
Balkans fights virus amid lack of doctors, medical supplies -- AP
Serbia's military deploys at borders to help fight coronavirus -- Reuters
Coronavirus Poland map: The top regions in Poland struck down by killer virus -- Express
COVID-19 cases rise to 448 in Portugal -- Xinhuanet
Number of Covid-19 cases rises to 319 in Finland – pandemic to cut GDP by 5%, says Etla -- Helsinki Times
Spain to close all hotels from March 24 -- Business Traveller
Euro 2020 postponed until next summer -- BBC
Europe struggles with 'socio-economic tsunami' caused by coronavirus -- France 24