RIO DE JANEIRO, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Paris Saint-Germain teammates Neymar and Thiago Silva have returned to their native Brazil as the Coronavirus epidemic forces much of Europe into lockdown.

The pair flew back to South America's largest country after French president Emmanuel Macron imposed a 15-day mandatory isolation order on citizens in a bid to limit the spread of the virus, according to the Globo newspaper.

Under Macron's decree, which took effect on Tuesday, people can only leave their homes for groceries and medicine, or to exercise.

PSG have not played since defeating Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League round of 16 on March 11. All major European football competitions have since been suspended.

More than 7,000 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus in France while there have been over 300 confirmed cases in Brazil.