Coronavirus: Italy quarantines 15 million people, creating chaos after plan leaks
- With more than 230 fatalities, Italy has recorded the most deaths from the Covid-19 disease of any country outside China
- The virus has now spread to all 22 Italian regions and the first deaths are being recorded in Italy’s less medically equipped south
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed off on plans that strictly limit movement in and out of the north, including Venice and the financial capital Milan, for nearly a month.
“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,” Conte said. “Exceptions will be allowed only for proven professional needs, exceptional cases and health issues.”
With more than 230 fatalities, Italy has recorded the most deaths from the Covid-19 disease of any country outside China, where the outbreak began in December. The new rules came shortly after the news the number of people infected had jumped by over 1,200 in a 24-hour period.
“The virus closes the heart of the north,” the Stampa daily’s headline read, while Il Messaggero went with “Half of Italy shuts”.
There was chaos and confusion in the northern Italian city of Padua in the Veneto region as word spread late on Saturday evening that the government was planning to announce the quarantine.
Packed bars and restaurants quickly emptied out as many people rushed to the railway station in Padua. Travellers with suitcases, wearing face masks, gloves and carrying bottles of sanitising gel shoved their way on to the local train.