France closes the Louvre as virus spreads to new fronts

PARIS — Coronavirus cases surged in Italy, and France closed the world-famous Louvre Museum as the epidemic that began in China sent fear rising across Western Europe, threatening its tourism industry. The virus has spread to more than 60 countries, and more than 3,000 people have died from the COVID-19 illness it causes. New battle fronts in the battle opened rapidly, deepening the sense of crisis that has already sent financial markets plummeting, emptied the streets in many cities and rewritten the routines of millions of people. More than 88,000 have been infected, on every continent but Antarctica. Australia and Thailand reported their first deaths Sunday, while the Dominican Republic...