Coronavirus kills two people in Italy within 24 hours

Two people have died of the coronavirus in Italy within 24 hours.

The first was 78-year-old man, who died at a hospital in Padua while being treated for the virus, while the second was a woman from Milan’s Lombardy region.

According to health officials, the number of people diagnosed with the COVID-19 has climbed to 30, with none of the cases believed to have travelled to China.

It comes after authorities ordered the closure of schools, public offices, restaurants and coffee shops in 10 towns in northern Italy after 15 new cases emerged.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is scheduled to meet the chiefs of Italy's civil protection agency, and urged people "not to worry".