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Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by Coronavirus, has now claimed 2,442 lives in China with a further 76,000 infections. The Coronavirus situation in Italy has worsened as it becomes the new epicentre of the virus in Europe following a huge increase in cases in the Lombardy region.
A state of emergency has been declared in various towns and cities around Italy. In total, around 50,000 inhabitants have been quarantined.
According to Angelo Borrelli, the head of Italy’s Civil Protection Agency, 152 people have been infected by the virus, 3 have died and so far, 1 has recovered. The most affected area is the northern region of Lombardy, with it’s capital Milan (not currently under quarantine).
Mark Lowen, a BBC reporter stationed next to the exclusion zone in Codogno has reported that just ‘one fruit/vegetable shop is open in a town of 16,000 people.’ Many others have reported that supermarket shelves in the areas surrounding the outbreak have been emptied out as people panic-buy as a precaution, while remaining at home.
‘Italy’s confirmed cases surged from three on Friday morning to more than 130 by Sunday morning.’
‘Zaia also announced a ban on public and private meetings, and closures of schools, universities and museums in the region.’
CNN describes the Italian authorities ‘scrambling’ to contain the outbreak as Italy is now the largest hotspot of the virus outside of Asia.
El País describes the situation of Coronavirus in Italy more intensely, describing Milan’s centre as a ‘ghost‘ with almost all social areas being closed for the foreseeable future.
‘The solution comes from isolation and from closing the doors and windows of the north of an entire country.’
‘The virus has jumped to three large cities- Turin, Milan and Venice – who have had to suspend normal life, cancelling educational commitments, closing bars, theatres, nightclubs, trade fairs and the most famous carnival in the world.’
‘No-one has any idea how long this state of emergency will continue.’
News outlets around the country are providing hour by hour updates on the situation including new cases and the state of supermarkets in various towns. Keep yourself updated using these sources for places to avoid, the roadblocks in place and the measures to take to avoid social contact and exposure.
Basic information provided by the WHO:
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