Updated March 19, 2020 03:14:55

Photo: French police on patrol at the deserted Place Massena in Nice, where lockdowns seek to stem the coronavirus. (REUTERS: Eric Gaillard)

Coronavirus cases worldwide have passed the 200,000 mark with China, Spain, Italy and France the countries hit the hardest.

This story is regularly updated. You can also stay informed with the latest episode of the Coronacast podcast.

Worldwide cases pass 200,000

China might be slowly getting back to normal but across the globe the number of coronavirus cases has now eclipsed 204,000 with over 8,200 deaths.

The rise overnight was confirmed by Johns Hopkins University and while China still has had the highest number of confirmed cases, Italy, Iran, Spain and Germany have all recorded over 10,000 cases.

However, in Europe, where several countries have put lockdowns in place, local authorities in both France and Italy are threatening to take more serious measures as residents in big cities ignore advice to stay indoors.

Italian authorities say too many people are violating last week's national decree, which allows people to leave homes to go to workplaces, buy food or other necessities or for brief strolls outside to walk dogs or get exercise.

Of hundreds of thousands of people stopped by police for checks, tens of thousands have received a summons for going out without valid reasons.

Photo: Some Italians are reportedly not taking the lockdown seriously, but the issue is greater in Lombardy than in the tourist hot spot of Rome, pictured here. (AP: Andrew Medichini)

The Governor of Lombardy, the hardest hit region in Italy, implored people to do the right thing or face further restrictions.

"Unfortunately, the contagion numbers are not falling, they continue to be high," Attilio Fontana said.

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"Every time you leave your home, you are putting yourself and others at risk. We are asking people to make sacrifices to save lives."

While in the French capital of Paris police said they checked more than 10,000 people after new confinement measures went into effect and by late morning had fined 522 violators.

People are required to carry a special document if they leave their homes explaining why. It can be handwritten or saved on a phone if people don't have printers at home.

Eurovision cancelled for 2020

The Eurovision Song Contest, which was due to happen in Rotterdam in May, is the latest huge event to be cancelled in Europe due to the coronavirus.

The European Broadcast Union, which broadcasts the event, said it had explored "many alternative options" to allow the event to go ahead.

"However, the uncertainty created by the spread of COVID-19 throughout Europe — and the restrictions put in place by the governments of the participating broadcasters and the Dutch authorities — means the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has taken the difficult decision to not continue with the live event as planned," a statement read.

"We ask some patience as we work through the ramifications of this unprecedented decision and patiently await further news in the coming days and weeks."

Sydney-based artist Motaigne was due to represent Australia at the contest with the song Don't Break Me.

Putin being protected from virus

Russian President Vladimir Putin is being protected from coronavirus around the clock, with the Kremlin saying all staff involved in his events schedule were undergoing mandatory testing for the virus.

Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin is making sure staff do not pass on coronavirus. (Reuters: Sputnik/Aleksey Nikolskyi)

"Everything needed to protect the president from viruses and other illnesses is being done," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"The president's work schedule is public and the best proof of the state of his health."

Mr Peskov has previously declined to say whether Mr Putin has been tested for coronavirus, but has said the president's medical care is of an exceptionally high level.

Mr Putin on Wednesday was visiting Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Journalists travelling with Mr Putin on the trip were tested beforehand to prove they were not carriers of the virus. The Kremlin has also told journalists to stay away if they feel unwell.

Mr Peskov said on Wednesday that he'd been tested for coronavirus himself along with all high-ranking Kremlin officials.

Locked down Spaniards get noisy against former King

Spaniards in lockdown came out on balconies on Wednesday to bang pots and pans demanding that former King Juan Carlos donate millions he reportedly received from Saudi Arabia to the Spanish health system currently struggling to combat the coronavirus.

People in central Madrid, summoned by a call on social media, appeared on balconies and on roof terraces to bang metal pans.

Photo: Spaniards took to their balconies demanding former King Juan Carlos donate millions he allegedly received from Saudi Arabia. (Reuters: Juan Medina)

Spaniards have been confined to their homes since Saturday for all but essential outings to stem the spread of the virus in the second worst-hit country in Europe.

King Felipe said on Sunday he had renounced his inheritance from his father, former King Juan Carlos, and stripped the ex-monarch of his palace allowance.

A Swiss newspaper has reported that while he was king, Juan Carlos accepted $100 million Euros from Saudi Arabia. Juan Carlos, who abdicated in 2014 after nearly 40 years on the throne, has not commented on the report.

The royal household said in a statement that Juan Carlos had not told his son about the Saudi funds.

ABC/AP

Topics: infectious-diseases-other, respiratory-diseases, australia, spain, italy, russian-federation, france

First posted March 19, 2020 02:24:01