Barcelona's Sagrada Familia landmark to close to tourists over coronavirus

Barcelona's landmark Sagrada Familia basilica will stop receiving visitors and suspend its construction work starting from Friday (March 13) as a precautionary measure due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Sagrada Familia construction board said on Thursday (March 12).The building by architect Antoni Gaudi, one of the Spanish city's main tourist attractions, will maintain its religious services, it added in a statement.Tourists visiting Barcelona on Thursday said they felt lucky to have been able to see the basilica today, before it will closes its doors to the public.Spain canceled top-flight soccer, shut schools across a swathe of the country and announced the prime minister will hold his meetings by video, after a minister tested positive for coronavirus and the death toll nearly doubled overnight.Spain on Thursday announced measures to tackle the economic impact of the coronavirus epidemic, which the country's hoteliers described as a "tsunami" threatening the survival of their businesses.Funds will be directed to central and regional health authorities, prices of drugs and medical equipment will be capped, and the tourism sector will also receive financial support.