The  world is coming together as it desperately tries to contain the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

China has sent ventilators, masks and some of its experts to Italy to help them battle the deadly illness, as their death toll rises at a terrifying rate, and scientists have been sharing information around the globe.

Despite the common enemy, different governments are dealing with it in very different ways, largely due to the stage of the spread they are at.

China and Italy are among the countries where the death toll is already in four figures, so have some of the most extreme restrictions in place.


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The UK

The UK has now officially entered the 'delay' stage of our plan to fight the spread.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Thursday that England, Scotland and Wales have moved on from the 'contain' stage, warning that "many more families" will lose loved ones".

As of 9am today, a total of 32,771 people had been tested.

Ten patients who tested positive in the UK have died.


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Anyone who has come into contact with a person diagnosed with the virus is being asked to self-isolate for 14 days, even if they have no symptoms.

This involves staying indoors and avoiding contact with anyone else at all times.

Anyone who has any cold symptoms, even if they are mild, are also being asked to self-isolate – but for seven days.

Schools are remaining open, but many companies are asking their staff to work from home.


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UK residents are being asked to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds using soap regularly.

America

The advice in America is very similar to that in the UK, with people being urged to wash their hands, avoid close contact with people and stay at home if sick.

Anyone who is sick is being asked to wear a facemask when around other people.

President Donald Trump has suspended all travel between Europe and the US, except the UK, for 30 days.

He has said the US will monitor the situation to determine if travel could be reopened earlier.


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Mr Trump said "we are marshalling the full power" of the government and private sector to protect the American people.

Italy

Italy has been the worst hit country in Europe, with coronavirus claiming the lives of more than 1,000 people.

As a result, the whole country is in lockdown and a national quarantine has been imposed.

People are being advised not to go outside unless it's absolutely vital, restricting the movement to work, health and other essential reasons.

The country has closed almost all shops except food stores and pharmacies.


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Bars, restaurants, Gyms, schools, museums and hairdressers have also been closed.

Spain

Parts of Spain are in lockdown, with the country officially in a two-week state of emergency.

Nightclubs, pubs and discos in Ibiza and Majorca have been ordered to close, along with gyms and sports facilities, casinos and game rooms as doubts are cast on Britons' spring and summer getaways.

The Balearic government has also ordered bars, restaurants, theatres and cinemas to reduce their capacity by at least a third.


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Residents have been instructed to stay at home for the next 15 days.

Drastic measures are being taken by the regional governments in Barcelona and Madrid.

The state of emergency was declared by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez  after Spain's death toll jumped to 120 and infections increased to 4,209, the fifth highest total in the world and the second highest in Europe after Italy.

The state of emergency allows Spain to confine infected people and ration goods, and bring in the military for various roles if needed.

Madrid is forcing restaurants, bars and non-essential shops to close from Saturday.

Only supermarkets and pharmacies will be allowed to remain open.

France

Elderly people and anyone with health issues are being told to stay at home.

Nurseries and schools will be closed for 15 days in some areas.

Major sporting events have been cancelled and visits to retirement homes have been banned.

President Emmanuel Macron said forthcoming local elections would still go ahead and public transport would continue to operate.

The state will take on the salaries of those who have to work from home and taxes due in march will be postponed.

China

As the worst hit country in the world, China is taking an 'iron grip' approach, which has seen tens of millions of its 1.3 billion people quarantined.

However early signs show the tough restrictions are working, with the daily number of new cases beginning to drop.

However keeping people away from work and children away from school has come at great cost to the national economy and has left millions isolated.

People have reported losing their jobs as a result of the quarantine, with others saying there are food shortages in their communities.

Meanwhile domestic violence charities were experiencing a spike in reported cases triggered by families being couped up in their homes for weeks on end.

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