Brussels, Mar 18: The European Union has decided to close its external borders in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the area that has now become the centre of the pandemic.
The move came as hard-hit Italy reported an additional 345 people had died from the virus, bringing its death toll to 2,503, and France imposed a draconian lockdown unseen during peacetime, according to Al Jazeera.
“The enemy is the virus and now we have to do our utmost to protect our people and to protect our economies,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after the grouping held its second video conference in a week.
“We are ready to do everything that is required. We will not hesitate to take additional measures as the situation evolves,” Leyen said.
(UNI)
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