Italy has extended its emergency coronavirus measures, which include travel restrictions and a ban on public gatherings, to the entire country.
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In a televised address on Monday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte ordered people to stay home and seek permission for essential travel.
Italy’s coronavirus death toll jumped from 366 to 463 on Monday. It is the worst-hit country after China.
The number of confirmed infection also increased by 24 per cent from Sunday as cases of the virus have been confirmed in all 20 Italian regions, official figures showed.
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Conte said the measures were designed to protect the most vulnerable.
“We’re having an important growth in infection… and of deaths.
“The whole of Italy will become a protected zone.
“We all must give something up for the good of Italy. We have to do it now.
“This is why I decided to adopt even more strong and severe measures to contain the advance… and protect the health of all citizens.
“There is no more time,” Conte said.
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The Italian Prime Minister described the measures as “I stay home” – with people forbidden to gather in public.
“No more nightlife; we can’t allow this anymore since they are occasions for contagion,” he said.
All sporting events – including football matches – are suspended nationwide. Schools and universities will remain closed until 3 April.
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The government said only those with a valid work or family reason that cannot be postponed will be allowed to travel.
Passengers departing on flights will have to justify themselves, as will all those who arrive by plane.
There are controls at train stations to check the temperatures of passengers. Cruise ships are also forbidden to dock at various ports.
BBC
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