Poland closes all schools, museums and cinemas and Ukraine shuts all educational buildings in capital city Kiev due to coronavirus

Poland has closed all schools, museums and cinemas, while Ukraine's capital city Kiev will shut all educational buildings due to fears of coronavirus spreading.  

Poland has only 26 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and no recorded fatalities.  

Ukraine's capital Kiev also announced today that it will be closing schools and universities until the end of March to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

'We are introducing preventive measures in Kiev as of March 12,' mayor Vitaly Klitschko said in a statement, adding classes would be suspended in schools and universities until the end of March.

It is the next move in a sweeping set of protective measures being implemented by the former eastern bloc countries.  

The Czech government also imposed a ban on all events with more than 100 people in the EU country of 10.7 million people as of Tuesday evening, closing museums and galleries as well as cinemas and theatres.

Prague reported an increase the country's number of coronavirus cases to 58 from 40 over Tuesday, while its larger northern neighbour Poland, which has a population of 38 million, put its tally at 21.

Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech tweeted that foreigners entering the country, including 'ordinary tourists', would be tested and may end up in quarantine.

In Slovakia, outgoing Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini said Catholic bishops have called off church services until March 23 in the devout country.

With seven confirmed cases, Slovakia has banned mass gatherings for two weeks and ordered all Slovaks returning from coronavirus hotspots China, South Korea, Iran and Italy to remain in home quarantine for 14 days.

All schools, universities, kindergartens remain closed this week in the capital Bratislava.