Codogno, Italy | Italy has cancelled the Venice Carnival, scrapped major league soccer matches and shut Milan's legendary La Scala theatre,  as it locked down the country's north in a bid to stop the spread of the fast-spreading coronavirus, which has killed three people in the country.

Also rising was concern in Europe, including by neighbouring Austria, which dangled the spectre of closing its border if the health emergency worsens. On Sunday night (Monday morning AEDT), Vienna stopped all train traffic to and from Italy. A train was stopped at the southern border after Italy warned two passengers possibly infected with the virus were on board.

AAP