Coronavirus Outbreak Causes Lockdown in Italy

ROME (AP) — An extraordinary, sweeping lockdown is in place in Italy because of the coronavirus, with travel restrictions being enforced by soldiers and police. In China, the diminishing threat prompted President Xi Jinping to visit the epicenter of Wuhan and declare: “We will certainly defeat this epidemic.” Caseloads are increasing in France, Spain and Germany, and fear is growing in the United States, where more than 750 people are infected and even some senior political leaders are putting themselves under quarantine. U.S. stocks, oil and other financial markets around the world clawed back some ground after their historic plunge Monday on hopes that the U.S. and other governments will pump in more aid for the virus-weakened global economy..