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  • World - Europe
  • Updated: March 09, 2020

Coronavirus: Italy Quarantines 16m People

Coronavirus:  Italy Quarantines 16m People

 

In an attempt to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, the Italian government has ordered a lockdown of the country’s northern region which has a total population of 16 million.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte made the announcement on Saturday, placing the people in the new red zones until April 3.

"We understand that these measures will require sacrifices, but this is the movement of self-responsibility," Conte said in a news conference, as the death toll rose from 233 on Saturday to 366 on Sunday

The move also came after the number of infected people rose from 5, 883 to 7,375, according to Italy's civil protection agency.

Among those infected is the head of the co-ruling Democratic Party, Nicola Zingaretti.

Conte signed a decree placing travel restrictions on the entire Lombardy region and 14 other provinces of Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Pesaro e Urbino, Venezia, Padova, Treviso, Asti, Vercelli, Novara, Verbano Cusio Ossola and Alessandria.

The government's decision restricts all movements in the quarantined area and police forces will patrol the roads in these provinces.

Those who enter or exit the region without a significant and "not deferrable" work reason or a health emergency will be fined.

"This is not a ban on any movement, but citizens will have to justify them," Conte said.

Any sorts of civil ceremonies, including funerals, are suspended. Bars and pubs that can guarantee a distance of one metre (3.3 feet) between customers are open but will close their doors at 6pm.

Gyms, swimming pools, theatres and betting shops will close and athletes will be forced to train indoors without any crowd.

"We must act to avoid the spread of the infection and the overload of our health system," Conte said.

Allnews reports that Italy has most number of death toll, after China where the disease broke out.

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