Italy coronavirus cases rise to more than 100, schools to be kept closed in Lombardy

The number of cases of coronavirus in Italy continued to rise on Sunday after the government passed a series of emergency measures to limit the spread of the outbreak in Europe’s most affected country.

Police, and if necessary, the armed forces, will have the authority to ensure the regulations are enforced.

The governor of Italy’s northern Lombardy region Attilio Fontana said certified cases of the illness in his area had risen to 89 from 54 a day earlier, bringing the total number in the country to more than 100.

Ieri in Cdm adottate misure straordinarie contro la diffusione del Coronavirus: https://t.co/S9xMfFjjjb. Massima precauzione per proteggere i cittadini. È la linea del Governo sin dall’inizio per tutelare il bene che ci sta più a cuore: la salute degli italiani pic.twitter.com/4qTQ6npugS

— Giuseppe Conte (@GiuseppeConteIT) February 23, 2020

 

In an emergency decree approved late on Saturday, the government adopted special powers to be able to stop people leaving or entering the worst impacted zones.

Strict quarantine restrictions are in force in two northern “hotspot” regions close to Milan and Venice.

People cannot enter or leave several towns in Veneto and Lombardy for the next two weeks without special permission. Even outside the zone, many businesses and schools have suspended activities, and sporting events have been cancelled including several top-flight football matches.

Italy has seen two deaths and the number of confirmed cases has risen to more than 100 – 89 of them in Lombardy.

“The contagiousness of this virus is very strong and pretty virulent,” said Lombardy’s health chief, Giulio Gallera.

The coronavirus ordinance signed by President Attilio Fontana in agreement with the minister of health Roberto Speranza also provides for the closure of all schools in Lombardy.
Earlier, the mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, has asked ” that schools should be closed in the city as the coronavirus cases continue to increase in Italy.

Sala also proposed that various events in the city get cancelled or postponed.

Dal Consiglio dei Ministri riceviamo alcune prime istruzioni relative a misure da applicare a Milano. #coronavirus#coronavirusitalia
➡️ https://t.co/7hFzqPG2Oh

— Beppe Sala (@BeppeSala) February 22, 2020