Face masks and empty restaurants in Italy, the heart of the European outbreak

CNN - Italy now has 1,694 cases and 34 deaths -- the most coronavirus cases of any country outside of Asia. And it's not slowing down -- on Sunday, Italy reported a 50% increase in cases compared to the previous day.

Several cities and towns in the country's north are under lockdown, with movement limited in or out of affected areas -- effectively quarantining 100,000 people.

People have begun wearing face masks everywhere -- in the streets, at sporting events, at tourist attractions. Earlier in February, when the Italian outbreak exploded, people rushed to buy face masks and hand sanitizer at stores.

Other countries like the US have also implemented travel restrictions to and from Italy. Two American airlines have suspended flights to Milan.

Authorities in Europe are taking precautions to prevent large gatherings of people. Many public spaces like the Louvre in Paris and Milan's La Scala opera house have closed, while crowded events like the Paris half-marathon have been canceled.

A French official advised against a long-time French tradition -- cheek-kissing -- to avoid close physical contact.

People are following officials' advice, and largely staying away from typically crowded areas. In Milan, the normally packed Piazza del Duomo in the center of the city was nearly empty last week, and popular riverside restaurants had empty tables.