No one can now leave home without a government form that they print out to justify their reason for being outside for the next two weeks.

People are only allowed out to goto work to buy essential food or medical supplies for a family emergency or to exercise a walker dog.

But they must be on their own, and they face a fine if these conditions are not met, Our Paris correspondent Lucy Williamson, reports before the quarantine, The fever as's France inch towards locked down supermarkets became barometers of the nation's fear.

The government had complained that people were ignoring the threat of Corona virus.

But attitudes here, a changing.

I'm scared.

I've got three kids.

I'm here to buy the basics.

I'm afraid for myself and for my Children.

Last night, President Macron announced a general confinement of France's population from midday today didn't know media it book.

As for at least the next 15 days, our movements will be seriously reduced.

It means that outside gatherings or meeting friends or family won't be permitted.

Going for a walk, meeting friends in the park or in the street won't be possible.

All infractions to these rules will be punished.

It's just gone midday here.

The new rules have come into force, and there are still a few people out on the Shawn's Eliza.

48 hours ago, the government was telling people to come out to vote.

Now it's saying Stay in your homes unless it's essential or face a fine.

Within minutes of the deadline, extra police were out questioning people still on the streets.

100,000 officers have been deployed to enforce the new rules.

Today's deadline sparked a last minute rush to leave the capital.

Polls suggest a sudden jump in anxiety here.

Normality no longer a barrier to this crisis is disappearing, and France instead is learning to manage its fear.

The C Williamson, B B C News Paris Well, Belgium has also tonight said that everyone must stay at home from midday tomorrow for almost three weeks.

To prevent the spread of the Corona virus, Belgians will only be allowed out for medical attention to exercise or to work in some businesses deemed essential.

Such a supermarkets and chemists.

10 people have died in Belgium.

Meanwhile, Italy remains the worst hit country with another big surgeon cases Today.

There are now more than 30,000 cases there.

2.5 1000 people have died.

Spain, which has locked down its 47 million inhabitants.

Sore cases increased to more than 11,000 cases.

More than 500 people have died there.

In Germany, Chancellor Merkel has banned religious services and venues, including clubs, bars, leisure facilities, oohs and playgrounds.

They'll also be closed.

Germany now has over 9000 cases and 24 deaths from the virus, which any hill is in.

Berlin.

Damian Dramatic asses in Madrid.

But first, let's speak to Mark alone, who is in Rome.

Forest and mark.

Terrible death toll there today, but also thousands of people.

2000 people in intensive care.

Yes, Sophie, the numbers really are shocking.

Today, Italy's prime minister said this country had overcome fascism on world wars but nevermore than now.

Was there such a need for Italians to be united?

He said that 10,000 medical students would have their final year exams scrapped so that they could move more quickly into the health care system and support doctors and nurses.

Cases here are still soaring, but the rate of increase is the smallest now since the outbreak began.

So possibly the containment measures are beginning toe work.

And if so, that could put pressure on other countries to copy Italy's approach more closely.

Now, talking of those measures from today, this is the updated form that we have to fill in for all movement around the country to certify that we are not in quarantine because of the virus or if they were that we've tested that we are negative.

That in addition, of course, to the blanket closure of virtually all venues across the country a week ago, Sophie Italy was taken the most extreme approach in Europe.

But now just look at how one by one, so many other countries a following suit and Damian Gramatica's in Madrid also an extreme approach.

Their Spaniards locked down.

Yes, exactly right, Sophie.

And consider this Spain, about a week ago was pretty much where the UK is today.

So just a couple of 1000 caters, and in seven days that has soared seven fold.

So what we saw out on the streets today similar police out there ordering people to go back home, stopping their cars, checking them this is Madrid's biggest train station.

Behind me, it's virtually deserted on that Spain.

Here, I think, is a equally a sign that if you don't take measures quickly, you get this huge rise in cases.

The restrictions here we're only brought in yesterday.

We now have 2000 more cases.

Just in the last day, 500 people in intensive care, Spain's prime minister promising a massive economic stimulus to try to keep things going and nobody here complaining that any of this is excessive.

And Jenny Hill, Germany is being shut down but not locked down quite yet.

Not quite yet.

But today Germany raised its official risk level from medium to high.

As the number of newly confirmed cases continues to accelerate, the health authorities up and down the country are bracing themselves.

Here in Berlin today, they announced their to turn a big exhibition center into an extra hospital with one 1000 beds.

The authorities have pretty much shut down every aspect of normal German daily life, now affecting leisure religion.

Business people have been told they should stay at home.

They're being told they shouldn't go on holiday, either in the country or abroad.

The government is hoping that it can avoid following Spain France initially into imposing a complete lock down.

They hope the current measures will be enough.

But you know, people here are looking at what's happening in those countries.

They're looking at the daily rise in cases here on their starting to fear that actually, for Germany, it really is just a question of time.

Jenny Hill, Damon Gramatica's on Marlon.

Thank you all.