10 mil in north told to stay put as virus rages
About a quarter of Italy’s population has been put under a quarantine as the country struggles to fight the outbreak of coronavirus.
More than 7,300 people have been diagnosed in Italy as of Sunday after a startling jump of more than 1,200 cases in 24 hours. The death toll jumped from 233 to 366 overnight from Saturday.
The spread of the virus forced Pope Francis to give his Sunday sermon via a video message, one of the first times since the practice started in 1954 that a pontiff has skipped the weekly live address.
“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,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said early Sunday morning. “Exceptions will be allowed only for proven professional needs, exceptional cases and health issues.”
Provinces including Lombardy, home to Milan and more than 10 million people, have all been locked down.
The 83-year-old pope came down with a cold more than a week ago and recently canceled a Lent retreat.
“It’s a bit strange this Angelus prayer today with the pope caged in the library, but I see you and I am close to you,” he said during the sermon.
“I am close in prayer to people who are suffering because of the current coronavirus epidemic as well as to all those who are taking care of them.”
Theaters, cinemas, bars and gyms have all been shut down and religious ceremonies, including funerals and weddings, must be canceled.
Schools and university classes have been suspended until at least March 15.
“There will be an obligation to avoid any movement of people,” Conte said Sunday. “And even within the areas, moving around will occur only for essential work or health reasons.”
“We understand that these measures will impose