Italy now home to worst coronavirus outbreak in Europe

With three deaths confirmed,Italian officials have isolated villages and cut short the Venice Carnival as they try to control what is now the worst coronavirus outbreak in Europe.

Businesses have closed in Codogno, one of 11 towns in lockdown amid fears of a coronavirus outbreak. Source: AAP

Italy's Chief of Civil Protection Angelo Borrelli has ordered more more than 50,000 people to stay within 11 towns, most of them centred around the small town of Codogno, southeast of Milan.

Meanwhile South Korea has raised its coronavirus alert to the "highest level" as confirmed case numbers keep rising.

 Six people have died from COVID-19 and more than 600 have been infected.