A man wearing a mask walks past the Eiffel tower closed after the French government banned all gatherings of over 100 people to limit the spread of the virus COVID-19, in Paris, March 14, 2020. (CHRISTOPHE ENA / AP)

BRUSSELS/MADRID – France is closing restaurants, cafés and non-essential stores and Spain imposed a national lockdown as European governments from Scandinavia to the Balkans increasingly curtailed public life to fight the coronavirus.

Altogether, there are more than 40,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in 42 European countries. Of them, seven nations – Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Britain and Norway – reported more than 1,000 coronavirus cases. 

With Germany holding out but Italy hard-hit by the outbreak, three of the four major euro-area countries face a growing economic hit from the spread of the virus. 

FRANCE

Banks, grocery stores and pharmacies will remain open in France and the first round of municipal elections on Sunday will go ahead, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said.

“Too many people still go to cafés and restaurants,” Philippe said Saturday in announcing the measures, which follow in the footsteps of Italy and Belgium. “We must show more discipline.”

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It’s a drastic step for France, where the cafés never closed completely even during World War II. Philippe said the goal is “to protect the nation.” 

Confirmed cases in France doubled in the past 72 hours to about 4,500 and the country should brace for a large number of severe cases, Jerome Salomon, director-general for health, said Saturday. 

Ninety-one people died and 300 patients are now hospitalized in intensive care, said French Health Director-General Jerome Salomon.

ITALY

Italy, which has reported the most cases of the new coronavirus outside China, has set the pace for restrictions, with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Wednesday ordering virtually all retailers other than grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations to close until March 25.

The number of people there who have tested positive for the new coronavirus reached 17,750, according to the latest update provided by the Civil Protection Department. This marked an increase of 2,795 cases over that of the previous day. The death toll also grew by 175 on a daily basis to 1,441.

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Of the people tested positive for COVID-19, some 1,518 were currently in intensive care while 8,372 were hospitalized with symptoms, and 7,860 under home confinement as they were asymptomatic or with light symptoms.

Pharmacists fix banners reading in Catalan, Spanish and English: "no masks, no alcohol, no clear hand gel" in a pharmacy in Barcelona, Spain, March 14, 2020. (EMILIO MORENATTI / AP)

SPAIN

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a 15-day national emergency that restricts citizens’ movement and gatherings, though most stores and companies can remain open. 

Spanish health authorities said on Saturday that more than 6,300 people have confirmed coronavirus infections. That's an increase of more than 1,500 cases in 24 hours. The death toll rose to 191.

GERMANY

Germany reported 3,795 confirmed cases as of 3 pm Saturday, with death toll rising to eight, according to the country's disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute.

Berlin city authorities shut down a swath of public life in the German capital on Saturday, banning public and private events of more than 50 people and closing pubs, clubs, movie theaters, stages and sports venues until at least April 19. Restaurants can remain open, but only if they space tables at least 1.5 meters apart, according to a statement by the local government.

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In a challenge to Europe’s visa-free travel, European governments, including Russia, tightened borders to slow the spread of the virus. German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged people to avoid unnecessary social events.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Also on Saturday, the Czech government ordered the closure of all shops and restaurants except for grocery stores, pharmacies, and petrol stations until at least March 24, as extra measures to curb the spreading virus.

"We must limit people's contact to prevent the spread of infection," Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech said on Twitter.

DENMARK

The country reported its first death related to COVID-19, after an 81-year-old under hospital care for other serious illnesses tested positive for the virus before death. Total infections in Denmark have risen to 827.

NORWAY 

Prime Minister Erna Solberg practically sealed off the country, shutting airports, ports and border crossings and called in the army to help enforce the measures. 

NORTHERN MACEDONIA

Health Minister Venko Filipce said pubs and restaurants have been banned from serving food to patrons, though they’ll be allowed to home-deliver.

SLOVENIA 

The country also reported its first death on Saturday, after an elderly man died of coronavirus at UKC Ljubljana hospital.

In other parts of Europe, confirmed cases of COVID-19 rose to 217 in Finland, 169 in Portugal, 150 in the Czech Republic, 51 in Luxembourg, 38 in Albania, 31 in Bulgaria, 26 in Cyprus and 12 in Moldova.