More than a quarter of Italy’s population have been placed in mandatory quarantine as the government attempts to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has signed a decree to impose quarantine and limit movement into and out of large areas of the north, including Milan and Venice. Movements within the region will be allowed only for “non-deferrable” business or health reasons. The so-called red zone is in Northern Italy and includes Lombardy and several other provinces. The ban of movement begins on Sunday and lasts till 3 April. In this zone, all public gatherings will be suspended and schools, museums and theaters will be closed.
Mr Conte said: “For Lombardy and for the other northern provinces that I have listed there will be a ban for everybody to move in and out of these territories and also within the same territory. “Exceptions will be allowed only for proven professional needs, exceptional cases and health issues.”
The outbreak in Europe. Credit: PA Graphics
Around the world, more and more countries are bracing for a surge in virus cases. Western countries have been increasingly imitating China – where the virus first emerged late last year, and which has suffered the vast majority of infections – by imposing travel controls and shutting down public events. On Saturday, Italy saw its biggest daily increase in coronavirus cases since the outbreak began in the north of the country on February 21. In its daily update, Italy’s civil protection agency said the number of people with the coronavirus rose by 1,247 in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 5,883. Another 36 people also died as a result of the virus, taking the total to 233. There was chaos and confusion hours before Mr Conte signed the decree, as word spread that the government was planning the quarantine. “Nobody told me,” said Maurizio Rasero, adding that he had hundreds of messages on his mobile phone from alarmed citizens. “It’s incredible that information that is so delicate and important would come out in the newspaper first, leaking everywhere even before local authorities learn about it.”
Other countries around the world were also limiting activities, with events and festivals called off, and travel restrictions and warnings issued.
A nosedive in tourist traffic and possible disruptions to supply chains sparked fears of a worldwide economic slowdown. Authorities and manufacturers have been trying to assure panicking consumers they do not need to hoard toilet paper, which has vanished from store shelves in various nations.
While many scientists said the world is clearly in the grip of a pandemic – a serious global outbreak – the World Health Organisation isn’t calling it that yet, saying the word might spook the world further.
Iran, fears over the virus and the government’s waning credibility has become a major challenge to leaders already reeling from American sanctions. More than 1,000 infections were confirmed overnight, taking the country’s total to 5,823 cases, including 145 deaths.
South Korea, the hardest-hit country outside China, reported 93 new cases on Sunday morning, taking the total to 7,134, with 50 deaths overall.
China on Sunday morning reported 44 new cases over the past 24 hours, the lowest level since it began publishing nationwide figures on January 20, and 27 new deaths.
United States, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention urged older adults and people with severe medical conditions to “stay home as much as possible” and avoid crowds.The number of deaths linked to coronavirus in Washin
Italy is the country worst affected by the new virus, with at least 5,883 people infected and 233 deaths recorded.