Countries around the world on Saturday continued to close borders, impose strict entry and quarantine requirements and restrict large gatherings in efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

Authorities have shuttered museums, tourist attractions and sporting events to minimize the risk of coronavirus transmission, with more than 138,000 people worldwide infected and more than 5,000 dead.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says Europe has become the pandemic’s current epicenter after reporting more cases and deaths than the rest of world combined, apart from China where the coronavirus presumably originated last December.

In Argentina, The Casa Rosada ordered the suspension of all international flights from the areas most affected by the disease. It applies to all of Europe, the United States, South Korea, Japan, China, and Iran.

The U.S. travel ban on most flights from Europe has gone into effect. The 30-day ban blocks most foreign visitors from 26 countries in Europe while accepting those from Britain and Ireland. 

Saudi Arabia will suspend all international flights for two weeks, starting Sunday, state news agency SPA said, Taiwan will require travelers from mainland Europe, Britain and Ireland to self-isolate for 14 days, while New Zealand implemented a similar measure for all those entering the country.

While infections continue to climb around the world, in China the number of new cases is falling.

The number of new coronavirus cases imported into China from overseas surpassed the number of locally transmitted new infections for the first time on Friday, data released by the National Health Commission showed on Saturday.