All the shops non-essential will have to close their doors from Thursday to Melbourne, a measure to try to curb the progression of the epidemic of coronavirus in the second city of Australia, where a night-time curfew came into force.

Daniel Andrews, Premier of the State of Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, announced on Monday that most businesses should close from Wednesday night, midnight. Supermarkets, pharmacies and liquor stores are part of the trade that will benefit from an exemption.