Italy closes cinemas, theatres, museums over coronavirus outbreak

The authorities in Italy have closed down museums, theatres, cinemas and other entertainment venues nationwide to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

The new regulation was signed early hours of Sunday by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, according to local media reports.

Also shut were schools, nightclubs and casinos throughout the country.

With more than 230 fatalities, Italy has recorded the most deaths from the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease of any country outside China, where the outbreak began in December 2019.

A large number of people in vast areas of northern Italy have remain quarantined.