ITALY is considering a ban on kissing and is closing ALL schools and universities as it tackles the worst coronavirus outbreak outside Asia.

Classrooms will shut down until March 15 and all sporting events will take place without fans until April 3 to help tackle the epidemic, as the virus death toll in the country hits 107.

The number of infections in Italy has rocketed to 2,263, including a newborn baby.

Ministers are now working frantically to contain the spiralling epidemic – but a final decision on the mass school closures is yet to be confirmed by education minister Lucia Azzolina, Italian media reports.

And it was reported officials are poised to ban greetings such as cheek kissing, hugging and shaking hands.

Today, the Italian government ordered all sporting events to take place without fans until April 3.