Italy puts 16 million people on lockdown
SIXTEEN million people have been placed on lockdown in Northern Italy as the country’s government attempts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has signed a decree, implementing a mandatory quarantine which will affect around a quarter of Italy’s population in the country’s north, including the Lombardy region and at least 14 provinces in neighbouring regions.
The measures will be in place until April 3.
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.”
It comes after the government last week ordered all schools and universities to close for 10 days.
Italy has the second highest number of cases globally, with nearly 6,000 cases. On Saturday alone, cases in the country surged by more than 1,200. The death toll has surpassed 230.
The World Health Organization says more than 101,000 people worldwide have now contracted the virus. The highest number of confirmed cases globally remain in China, where the virus originated.
The country has seen more than 80,000 cases of the virus and over 3,000 deaths.
On Saturday, a hotel being used to observe people who had come into contact with coronavirus patients collapsed in Quanzhou, China, leaving dozens trapped.
Photos and videos posted to social media showed rescue workers searching for people trapped in the wreckage.
The five-storey hotel had 80 rooms and was being used as a medical observation facility for those who had prior contact with coronavirus patients.
It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse of the facility, which opened fewer than two years ago.
At least six people died in the incident and more than two dozen remain missing.