Italy locks down 16 million over threat as all weddings cancelled and shops closed
● Country’s death toll from outbreak soars by 133 to 366
Italy has announced a sweeping quarantine for its northern regions, locking down about 16 million people – more than a quarter of its population – for nearly a month to halt the relentless march of the coronavirus across Europe.
Weddings, museums, shopping centres and restaurants are all hit by the restrictions, which focus on a swathe of northern Italy but are disrupting daily life around the country.
From Venice to Milan, confusion reigned as residents and tourists tried to figure out when and how the measures were coming into effect. Travellers crammed aboard standing-room only trains, tucking their faces into scarves and sharing hand gel.
The quarantine came as Italy’s death toll from coronavirus surged yesterday by 133 to 366.
Around the globe, more and more events were cancelled or hidden behind closed doors.
The Pope, who has been ill, held his Sunday blessing by video instead of in person, even though he wasn’t affected by the lockdown. He described feeling like he was “in a cage”.
Organisers of Formula 1’s Bahrain grand prix announced the event would run this month without spectators as the island kingdom fights its own coronavirus outbreak. After Italy saw its biggest one-day jump in infections, Italian Premier
Giuseppe Conte signed a quarantine decree overnight for the country’s prosperous north. Areas under lockdown include Milan, Italy’s financial hub and the main city in Lombardy, and Venice, the main city in the neighbouring Veneto region.
The extraordinary measures will be in place until 3 April.
“There will be a ban for everybody to move in and out of these territories and also within the same territory,” Mr Conte said. “Exceptions will be allowed only for proven professional
Italian Premier needs, exceptional cases and health issues.” The fate of foreign visitors stuck in Italy’s quarantine zones was unclear.
The move is similar to the one take in China, where the government locked down about 60 million people in central Hubei province in January. Six weeks later, they are still effectively stuck.
Doctors from the University of Milan warned in a letter that up to 10 per cent of all those infected with coronavirus need intensive care, with hospitals becoming overwhelmed. Italy is closing all museums and archaeological sites, even those far from the lockdown zone. It also suspended all weddings.
The northern regions concerned by yesterday’s decree are closing cinemas and ski slopes.
The Vatican museums, including the Sistine Chapel, have been closed in yet another blow to Italy’s tourism industry.
“There will be a ban for everybody to move in and out of these territories and also within the same territory.”
GIUSEPPE CONTE