Large parts of Italy have been placed under emergency quarantine following a dramatic spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the European country. The number of infected surged past 100 on Sunday, following the two deaths from the virus. The fear of an uncontrollable coronavirus outbreak has since prompted the government to swiftly approve an emergency decree late on Saturday.
The decree enables “extraordinary measures” to tackle the spread of the biggest European outbreak of the coronavirus including placing entire towns under lockdown.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the emergency plan which allows adopted special powers to stop people leaving or entering the worst impacted zones.
The measures also mandate that police and armed forces “have the authority to ensure the regulations are enforced”.
Following the mass panic in Italy, authorities have suspended all school and sports activities in those areas, including several Serie A football matches due to take place today.
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The Italy versus Scotland women’s Six Nations game set for tonight has also been postponed over coronavirus fears.
Italy’s industrial heartlands Lombardy and Vento, which jointly account for 30 percent of gross domestic output, are the worst hit areas in Italy.
Around a dozen towns in these regions have been placed on lockdown, meaning that around 50,000 people are effectively quarantined under the government plan.
One Lombardy resident told France24: “I think wearing a masks the right thing to do but there is too much panic. Shutting down the streets is going too far.”
President Moon Jae-in said the country faced “a grave turning point”, and the next few days would be crucial in the battle to contain the outbreak.
The coronavirus originated in the Chinese province of Hubei last year, but has since spread to 26 countries, where more than 1,400 cases and 11 deaths have been confirmed.
However, inside China, health authorities have reported a decrease in the rate of deaths and new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday.
Some 76,392 cases including 2,348 deaths have been confirmed in China.