Spain reports 2,000 new virus cases and more than 100 deaths in 24 hours.

Spain on Saturday banned people from leaving home except to go to work, visit a doctor or buy essential supplies, in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the restrictions on movement following a huge spike in the number of infections in this nation of some 46 million people.

They are part of a package of measures introduced as part of a 15-day state of alert officially declared by his government on Saturday.

"The prohibition to circulate in the streets... must be followed starting today," he said in a televised address after a cabinet meeting that lasted more than seven hours.

Spaniards may leave home to go to work, "buy bread", go to the pharmacy and get medical care but "not to go have diner at a friend's house", he added.

All stores except for pharmacies and supermarkets will close nationwide, the premier said.
"Our hands will not shake to prevail against the virus," Sanchez said.

Bars, restaurants and all shops except for supermarkets had already shut on Saturday for two weeks in the Madrid region, which accounts for over half of all infections.

Earlier on Saturday the mayor of Seville announced that the southern city's famous Holy Week processions featuring hooded penitents would be cancelled because of the outbreak of the virus.

The decision was announced on Friday afternoon after an emergency cabinet meeting. The government said it would adopt a series of extraordinary measures in order "to mobilise all the resources of state to better protect the health of all of its citizens".

"Unfortunately we cannot rule out that over the next week we could reach more than 10,000 infections," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Sanchez said.

The number of cases in Spain has increased tenfold since last Sunday, and bars, restaurants and all sporting and cultural institutions have been closed. The Madrid region, which is the country's worst-hit with nearly 3,000 cases, has ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses.

On Saturday it was announced that former NATO secretary-general Javier Solana was being treated at a Madrid hospital for coronavirus, a source close to the Spanish politician confirmed.