Italy’s entire population quarantined:
● Sports events cancelled, weddings and funerals banned too
Travel was restricted across Italy from yesterday and public gatherings were forbidden throughout the country as the government signed off on even stricter quarantine measures to fight the spread of the new coronavirus.
Marriages and funerals were banned for more than three weeks, and bars and restaurants were told to close at 6pm, with the prime minister urging people to stay home.
The unprecedented measures, in place until April 3, were extended from several large areas of the north to Italy’s entire population of more than 60 million in a decree signed on Monday night.
Since the Covid-19 disease first emerged in China in late 2019, Italy has become Europe’s hardest-hit country and has seen a rapid rise in cases to more than 9,000, with 463 deaths so far.
“All forms of gatherings in public places or sites open to the public” were banned, the decree said, while sporting events of all levels and disciplines were cancelled — stopping play in the top-flight Serie A football league.
Under the new rules travel is only allowed for the most urgent work or health reasons, but people will be able to return to their own homes from elsewhere.
Schools and universities were closed, while businesses were urged to give employees leave.
Bars and restaurants were only allowed to open from 6am-6pm, the decree said, and only if it was possible to keep a distance of at least a metre between customers.
Religious institutions will stay open, as long as people can stay the same distance from each other — but ceremonies such as marriages, baptisms and funerals are banned.
The measures extend a quarantine zone that Italy had imposed on Sunday for its industrial northern heartland around the cities of Milan and Venice.
“Today is our moment of responsibility.
“We cannot let our guard down,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a dramatic evening television address before signing the latest decree.
“Everyone must give up something to protect the health of citizens,” he said, adding the measures could be summarised as follows: “I stay at home”.
Pope Francis urged Catholic priests yesterday to “have the courage” to go out and help those sickened by the virus.
“Let us pray to the Lord also for our priests, that they may have the courage to go out and visit the sick ... and to accompany the medical staff and volunteers in the work they do,” the pontiff said during a mass in Vatican City.
It was not immediately clear how all the new rules would be enforced.
Trains and numerous flights had continued to operate into and out of Milan on Monday despite the earlier restrictions, which carried a fine of more than €200 (R3,584) for people travelling without a valid reason.
Anyone who wishes to travel must now fill out a form justifying their reasons, and submit it to authorities at train stations, airports and at major roads between cities.
Supermarkets open overnight in Rome and Naples were packed with residents stocking up on food as well as soap and disinfectant.
People were seen waiting calmly in queues outside the shops in the middle of the night, despite the government assuring that supermarkets would still be regularly restocked and asking Italians not to “go mad” with panic buying.
All ski resorts were out of action, and cinemas, museums, nightclubs and similar venues must remain shut.
Only sports competitions organised by international bodies may go ahead — but without spectators.
Officials faced a further headache after prisoners fearful of infection protested or rioted in 23 jails, leaving several dead.
Italy has the world’s second oldest population after Japan, according to the World Bank, and older people appear more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.
With the government apparently struggling to cope with the scale of the medical emergency, it has now also begun to recall retired doctors as part of an effort to quickly bolster the health service with 20,000 staff. —