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EU leaders set for virus talks amid border measure worries

The World Health Organization named Europe as the new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.
Credit: AP
An employee of the Stadtwerke Gruppe Halle/Saale cleans and disinfects a bus of the Hallesche Verkehrs AG, the local public transport Halle/Saale, Germany, Monday, March 16, 2020. All of the local transport company's scheduled vehicles are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected every day. This applies in particular to contact surfaces such as handrails, handles, steering wheels and ticket machines. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.. (Hendrik Schmidt/dpa via AP)

BRUSSELS, Belgium — European Union leaders are set to hold a virtual summit Tuesday to weigh steps the bloc is taking to combat the fast-moving coronavirus. 

It's the second such summit in two weeks, and comes as EU countries take different measures at their borders in attempts to keep the disease at bay.  

The virus has now infected more than 50,000 people across Europe and claimed more than 2,000 lives. 

French President Emmanuel Macron's office says the EU is set to announce new restrictions at its external borders to the outside world.  

The bloc's health ministers agreed to start purchasing together protective equipment, testing kits and ventilators to help those member countries hardest hit. 

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