Coronavirus halts production of Mission: Impossible movie in Italy

Filming on the latest Mission: Impossible movie in Venice, Italy has been paused due to concerns about the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.

Paramount has halted production due to Italy recording the worst outbreak of coronavirus in Europe.

Italy has extended its emergency coronavirus measures, which include travel restrictions and a ban on public gatherings, to the entire country.

On Monday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte ordered people to stay home and seek permission for essential travel.

He said the measures were designed to protect the most vulnerable. "There is no more time," he said in a TV address. "The whole of Italy will become a protected zone.”

Italy's coronavirus death toll jumped from 366 to 463 on Monday. It is the worst-hit country after China.

Tom Cruise was not in Italy for the Mission: Impossible shoot, but the production crew were sent home.

"Out of an abundance of caution for the safety and well-being of our cast and crew, and efforts of the local Venetian government to halt public gatherings in response to the threat of coronavirus, we are altering the production plan for our three-week shoot in Venice," Paramount said in a statement.

"During this hiatus we want to be mindful of the concerns of the crew and are allowing them to return home until production starts. We will continue to monitor this situation, and work alongside health and government officials as it evolves."