Italy imposes unprecedented lockdown amid virus fear
Italy faced an unprecedented lockdown on Tuesday leaving streets in the capital Rome and other cities deserted after the government extended a clampdown across the entire country in a bid to slow Europe’s worst outbreak of the coronavirus.
The measures, announced late on Monday by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, widen steps already taken in the rich northern region of Lombardy and parts of neighbouring provinces, restricting movement and banning public gatherings.
“The future of Italy is in our hands. Let us all do our part, by giving up something for our collective good,” Conte said in a tweet, encouraging people to take personal responsibility.
The latest steps came after data showed the coronavirus outbreak continuing to spread, with 9,172 positive cases recorded as of Monday and 463 deaths, heavily concentrated in the prosperous northern regions of Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, and Veneto.
In Rome, cars circulated freely under a clear blue sky in the normally traffic-clogged centre and commuters could find seats in the usually packed underground system during rush hour.
Rome landmarks including the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and St Peter’s Square in the Vatican were closed or empty, with police telling tourists to return to their hotels.
For at least the next three weeks, people have been told to stay at home if possible, moving only for reasons of work, health needs, or emergencies. Anyone travelling will have to carry a document declaring their reasons, and schools and universities will remain closed.
Outdoor events, including sports fixtures, have been suspended, while bars and restaurants will have to close from 6 pm. Shops are allowed to remain open as long as customers maintain a minimum distance of a metre between each other.
“The whole of Italy is closed now,” was the headline in Corriere della Sera, the country's largest circulation daily.
In the wake of the clampdown, neighbouring Austria said it would deny entry to people arriving from Italy, while British Airways cancelled all flights to and from the country.
Severe controls
The measures are some of the most severe controls imposed on a Western country since the Second World War and already there have been questions about how effectively they can be enforced across a country of 60 million people.
Shortly after Conte announced them, shoppers in Rome rushed to late-night supermarkets to stock up on food and basic necessities, prompting the government to declare that supplies would be guaranteed and urging people not to panic buy.
“You’ve also got the worry that the supermarkets will be emptied out of fear. If people keep over-buying there won't be any water left,” said building superintendent Gianni, who like many Italians drinks bottled water.