Bavaria becomes first German state to impose lockdown

Germany's largest state Bavaria on Friday became the first region in the country to order a lockdown amid the coronavirus outbreak.

"From midnight tonight for a provisional period of two weeks, there will be fundamental restrictions on going out," said state premier Markus Soeder.

"We are not locking Bavarians in but we are winding down public life almost completely," Soeder said at a press conference, adding that restaurants would be closed and residents would no longer be allowed to meet in groups outside.

A total 16,290 cases have been confirmed in Germany, with 44 deaths reported.