Italy has extended emergency measures across the entire country in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Making the announcement on Monday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte explained that the lockdown introduced just two days ago in much of the north were no longer sufficient.
It comes after the country recorded a jump in deaths tied to the virus.
"The right decision today is to stay at home. Our future and the future of Italy is in our hands. These hands have to be more responsible today than ever before," he said.
All outdoor public gatherings would be forbidden and announced that all sports events would be suspended, with exceptions made for those travelling for work, medical reasons or emergencies until April 3.
The government has already ordered schools, cinemas, theatres and museums to close.
As many as 9,172 cases have been confirmed in the country, with 463 deaths.
Powerful airstrikes shook Damascus on Wednesday, targeting the defence ministry and the presidential palace as Israel vowed to destroy Syrian government forces attacking Druze communities in southern Syria and demanded they withdraw.
Two people died and more than 1,000 have been evacuated in South Korea after the country was lashed by torrential rain on Thursday, the safety ministry said.
Clashes between Syrian government troops and local Druze fighters resumed in the southern Druze city of Sweida early on Wednesday, collapsing a ceasefire announced just hours earlier that aimed to put an end to days of deadly sectarian bloodshed.
Russia attacked cities across Ukraine overnight with hundreds of drones and a missile strike, hitting energy infrastructure and wounding at least 15 people, authorities said on Wednesday.