Timor-Leste imposes first coronavirus lockdown over outbreak fears

The tiny South-East Asian nation of Timor-Leste will put its capital city on a coronavirus lockdown for the first time, its government said, amid fears it could be facing its first local outbreak.

A “sanitary fence and mandatory confinement” will be imposed in Dili for seven days from midnight Monday, with residents asked to stay home unless necessary to leave, the country’s council of ministers said in statement.

It said the measure was because of a “high probability of community transmission”, but did not elaborate.

“It is forbidden to travel, by land, sea or air, out of this municipality, except in duly justified cases for reasons of safety, public health,…