There are currently more than 125,000 confirmed coronavirus cases around the world, with more than 5,000 deaths.
In a bid to contain the virus and stop its spread, an increasing number of countries are locking down their borders and imposing travel restrictions.
With bans being announced and implemented at the last minute, those abroad are left scrambling to get home as airlines and cruise companies announce unprecedented cancellations.
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The US travel ban on travellers from Europe is due to come into effect from midnight on 13 March (4am on 14 March in the UK).
It will affect Schengen area countries, including Italy, Spain and France.
The UK and Ireland are exempt - but if you've visited any of the Schengen countries in the last 14 days you will be affected.
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The US is also advising its citizens to reconsider international travel due to coronavirus.
The country's State Department said that due to the Covid-19 outbreak, travel restrictions could be put into place "without notice".
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning US citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to a number of European countries, in addition to those in the Schengen area.
A number of European countries are locking down their borders in response to coronavirus.
The Czech Republic is closing its border to travellers from 15 nations, including the US, from 11pm on 13 March.
However, The Independent has learnt some visitors were already being turned away before the ban comes into effect.
Australia, as well as several countries in Asia, have imposed their own travel restrictions.
In particular, countries including Thailand and India are suspending their current visa policies.
Australia is also asking its citizens to reconsider travel.
In its latest situation report, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the number confirmed cases around the world stands at 125,048 – 6,729 new cases have officially been recorded since yesterday.
French Polynesia, Turkey, Honduras and Côte d’Ivoire have reported their first cases in the last 24 hours.
The WHO stresses that it's a "controllable pandemic".
The UK government has updated its travel advice for British people travelling to or living in other countries.
Those who are still planning to travel should check and sign up for travel alerts from the FCO before they go. This will include updates on any travel restrictions and bans in place.
You should check that any bookings, such as flights and accommodation, are still valid and haven't been cancelled as well. You should also prepare for any last-minute travel disruptions while you're away.
It's also important to have travel insurance in place in case you're affected by any disruptions. If you're purchasing a new travel insurance policy, make sure you are fully covered as a number of travel insurance companies are now pulling products that would previously have covered disruption due to coronavirus. Double check with your provider if you're not sure.
Latvia has now declared a State of Emergency, effective immediately.
The Latvian Centre or Disease Prevention and Control has said that travellers coming from Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, UK, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, USA, Greece, Iceland, Singapore, Japan, Iran, South Korea and China will need to monitor their health for 14 days after their arrival. This includes taking their temperature twice a day.
If you develop flu-like symptoms including fever, cough or difficulty breathing, you should call 113.
The country is also shutting down all educational institutions and banning events with more than 200 people until 14 April.
Disney will be closing all of its theme parks from this weekend.
The company's parks in Asia have been closed since earlier this year due to coronavirus. It announced on Thursday that Disneyland in Anaheim, California, will close from Saturday 14 March until the end of the month – this is only the fourth time that the park has closed in its history.
Disney have since announced that Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris will be closing as well. A spokesperson for the parks told The Independent:
In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of our theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort, beginning at the close of business on Sunday, March 15, through the end of the month.
The hotels at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris will remain open until further notice. The retail and dining complexes, Disney Springs at Walt Disney World and Disney Village at Disneyland Paris, will remain open.
The company is also suspending upcoming cruises on Disney Cruise Line from Saturday 14 March until the end of the month.
Disney said it will continue to pay its staff during this period of closure.
Universal Orlando Resort will also be closing from the end of business on Sunday 15 March. The park will be closed until the end of March.
The company said that its hotels and Universal CityWalk will remain open during this time.
The Foreign Office is now warning against all but essential travel to a number of regions in Spain.
These include: Madrid and La Rioja, the municipalities of La Bastida and Vitoria (both in the Basque Country) and Miranda de Ebro (in Castilla y León).
The above regions have been designated "areas of community transmission of coronavirus" by the Spanish Ministry of Health, according to the Foreign Office.
The Independent has compiled a list of cancelled flights from major airlines. However, for the latest cancellations, you should check directly with the airline you're travelling with.
Peru has announced a ban on all flights arriving from Europe and Asia. The FCO said the ban is expected to come into force from Sunday 15 March.
This will likely mean that outgoing flights will be drastically reduced as well.
At the moment, Peru has 17 confirmed cases of coronavirus and zero deaths according to the World Health Organisation.
Austria will be closing a number of ski resorts from Sunday 15 March.
The affected regions are Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg. The hotels in these regions will close on Monday 16 March.
The FCO advised those in the region to contact their tour operator or airline.
Following the lockdown in Italy, direct flights and trains between Austria and Italy have also been affected. The border hasn't been closed, however. To make the crossing between the two countries, you will need a medical certificate.
According to the FCO:
Anyone wishing to cross the border is required to hold a medical certificate. The certificate needs to include the result of molecular biological test and must be no more than four days old, in English, German or Italian.
In London, a tube driver who works on the Jubilee Line has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus.
The man has been self-isolating since returning from a holiday to Vietnam and has not returned to work, according to Press Association.
Transport for London (TfL) said the driver is currently receiving support from health services. He was not working in a customer-facing area, according to a spokesperson for TfL
The FCO is now advising against non-essential travel to the Czech Republic. It said:
From midnight on Friday 13 March, (i.e. between Friday 13 March and Saturday 14 March), travel to and from the Czech Republic from a list of 15 ‘at risk’ countries, including the UK, will not be permitted. There are exemptions to this rule, including UK citizens with permanent or temporary residency in the Czech Republic.
Tourists are not exempt from the restrictions and will not be permitted entry. UK tourists already in the country are still allowed to leave.
If you're currently in the country, you should contact your travel provider.
The Independent has already received reports of flights from the Czech republic being cancelled.
Direct Line Group, which owns Direct Line and Churchill brands, has now stopped selling travel insurance to new customers.
The firm said in a statement:
Due to the impact that coronavirus is having across the world we have experienced a huge increase in demand for travel insurance.Our priority is to protect and service our existing customers and therefore we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend the sale of travel insurance to new customers so that we can focus on our existing customers.We have not taken this decision lightly and we carefully considered many different options prior to reaching this decision.For our customers who already hold a travel insurance policy with us there is no change and they can continue to contact us to make a claim or amend their policy.
A number of other travel insurance firms have also been pulling their products due to coronavirus.
The Independent's travel correspondent Simon Calder reports that Malta has extended mandatory quarantine to those who arrive in Malta from any country. The smallest member of the European Union is heavily dependent on tourism, particularly from the UK.
The majority of airlines are now allowing passengers to change both past and future bookings free of charge, waiving the normal rebooking fee.
EasyJet said in a statement: “We understand there is uncertainty around travel at this time, so if you currently have a booking with us but would prefer not to fly then from 13 March 2020 you can now change your flight online and we will waive the flight change fee.
“This applies to all existing and new bookings until further notice.”
Norway is asking foreigners to leave, says Foreign Office:
The Norwegian government advises that travellers from countries outside the Nordic region who are not residents of Norway will be asked to return. Those still wishing to enter will be required to enter self-quarantine for 14 days.
Vietnam has announced that from noon Vietnam time on 15 March foreign nationals will be refused entry if in the previous 14 days they have been to the UK, or any Schengen country, even in transit. This restriction will be in place for 30 days.
