Spain to follow Italy into lockdown as virus cases soar Spain is set to follow Italy on Saturday in declaring a far-reaching nationwide lockdown to slow the accelerating spread of the coronavirus epidemicBARCELONA, Spain -- Spain was set to follow Italy on Saturday in declaring a nationwide lockdown as European countries took ever more sweeping measures to reduce contact among people and slow the accelerating spread of the coronavirus. China, meanwhile, where the virus first emerged late last year, continued to relax its drastic measures in its hardest-hit region. Airline flights bound for Spain turned around as word spread of the lockdown. Health authorities in Spain said the number of coronavirus infections climbed past 5,700, half of them in the capital, Madrid. Spain has the fifth-highest number of cases, behind China, Italy, Iran and South Korea.

Source: ABC News March 14, 2020 06:02 UTC