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Post by Admin on Mar 8, 2020 19:40:14 GMT
Italy's prime minister has said at least 16 million people are now under lock-down in Lombardy region and also in 14 provinces until early April.
The dramatic escalation in the country's efforts to contain the new coronavirus will close gyms, pools, museums and ski resorts.
Weddings and funerals are also suspended under the new measures.
Italy is Europe's worst-hit country and reported a steep rise in virus infections on Saturday.
The new measures, which also apply to financial centre Milan and tourist hotspot Venice will last until 3 April.
The death toll in Italy has passed 230, with officials reporting more than 50 deaths in 24 hours. The number of confirmed cases jumped by more than 1,200 to 5,883 on Saturday.
"We want to guarantee the health of our citizens. We understand that these measures will impose sacrifices, sometimes small and sometimes very big," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said early on Sunday.
"But this is a time where we must take responsibility for ourselves."
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Post by Admin on Mar 8, 2020 22:18:15 GMT
The Italian government’s decision to close schools, shut down events and set strict rules about public interactions for more than 10 million people to limit the spread of COVID-19 may be an indicator of how other Western countries will need to respond to the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus.  In Italy, there are now 5,883 cases with 233 deaths, according to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering’s Centers for Systems Science and Engineering. The Mediterranean country has reported the highest number of deaths outside of mainland China, which has had more than 80,000 infections and at least 3,000 deaths. COVID-19 was first identified late last year in Wuhan, China. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed a sweeping decree limiting community interaction between March 8 and April 3 in parts of Italy that include the Lombardy region and other provinces that have been most affected. It includes the cancellation of all events involving health workers and the closure of movie theaters and museums. In bars, restaurants, gyms and shops, patrons must be at least a meter, or more than 3 feet, from one another. Schools were told to close until March 15. Care givers can no longer visit the emergency room with the person they care for, and visits to prison inmates will primarily be done via video calls. Funerals have been suspended. In total, there are 107,897 cases of COVID-19 and 3,658 deaths worldwide, as of early Sunday. More than 60,000 people have recovered. Though China’s Hubei Province has had the majority of cases and deaths since the outbreak began gaining steam there in January, that proportion is shifting as the number of cases in Europe, in particular, has soared over the past week. Iran has seen 6,566 cases and 194 deaths; Italy has had 5,883 cases and 233 deaths; South Korea’s figures are 7,314 cases and 50 deaths. France has reported 949 cases and 11 deaths, while Germany has had 1,039 cases but zero deaths. |
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Post by Admin on Mar 9, 2020 2:20:28 GMT
The latest figures mean Italy now has the highest number of confirmed infections outside China, where the outbreak originated in December. It has overtaken South Korea, where the total number of cases is 7,313.
Italy has one of the world's oldest populations. The virus is particularly dangerous for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
Among the latest people to test positive in Italy is the army's chief of staff. Salvatore Farina said he felt well and was self-isolating.
The strict new quarantine measures affect a quarter of the Italian population and centre on the rich northern part of the country that powers its economy.
The health system is under immense strain in Lombardy, a northern region of 10 million people, where people are being treated in hospital corridors.
"We want to guarantee the health of our citizens. We understand that these measures will impose sacrifices, sometimes small and sometimes very big," Prime Minister Conte said as he announced the measures in the middle of Saturday night.
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Post by Admin on Mar 9, 2020 23:01:32 GMT
Italy is extending its coronavirus quarantine measures, which include a ban on public gatherings, to the entire country.  Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said that people would only be permitted to travel for work or family emergencies. He said the measures, which come into effect on Tuesday, were to defend the most fragile members of society. Italy's coronavirus death toll jumped on Monday by 97 to 463. It is the worst-hit country after China. The number of confirmed infections also increased to 9,172, up from 7,375 on Sunday, official figures show. Cases of the virus have been confirmed in all 20 Italian regions. What are the restrictions? Mr Conte described the measures as "I stay home" - with people forbidden to assemble in public. "No more nightlife; we can't allow this anymore since they are occasions for contagion," he said. The restrictions are similar to those earlier applied to the worst affected Lombardy region, and 14 other provinces. Coronavirus symptoms 'take five days to show' The government has said only those with a valid work or family reason that cannot be postponed will be permitted to travel. Passengers departing on flights, except temporary visitors, will have to justify themselves, as will all those arriving by plane. There are controls at train stations to check temperatures. Cruise ships are forbidden to dock at various ports. |
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Post by Admin on Mar 16, 2020 21:28:20 GMT
One of the defining characteristics of the European Union has been its strong policy of taking an open approach when it comes to borders in the region: the EU may be a collection of individual countries, but it works as one, and so when you travel from one to the other as an EU citizen, you can move as freely as you do within your own country. Now, in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic, all that is changing. Today the EU announced new measures to limit movement between borders within the EU, with the restrictions initially covering 30 days. After that, Russia, which shares a border with various countries in the EU, also announced its own border closure.  We have already had a number of border closures within the EU and the wider region — in keeping with the global response to movement, and specifically in response to outbreaks that starter earlier (for example, Italy has had travel restrictions in place for weeks at this point). The aim with today’s announcement — laid out in a press briefing — however, is to bring about a more coordinated approach across the region. “Our measures to contain the Coronavirus outbreak will be effective only if we coordinate on the European level,” said EU president Ursula von der Leyen in a statement. She added that the travel ban does not extend to everyone: emergency medical professionals and other essential goods and services will continue to move across borders, as will citizens of the respective countries coming home, and those making their way home through a country. “We have to take exceptional measures to protect the health of our citizens. But let’s make sure goods and essential services continue to flow in our internal market. This is the only way to prevent shortages of medical equipment or food. It’s not only an economic issue: our single market is a key instrument of European solidarity. I am in discussion with all Member States so that we confront this challenge together, as a Union.” Russia, meanwhile, had closed off borders with specific countries such as Iran (which has been one of the worst-hit countries globally) and Poland, and now it is closing off its border to all international travel until the beginning of May (for now), with the exception of Russian nationals, airline professionals, diplomats and a few other specific categories. Border closures are coming into effect the world over in an effort to stem the infection rate of the novel coronavirus, with the UK yesterday announcing more restrictions on travel, and Canada raising its walls earlier today. (The UK is not included in the EU measures, given its exit from the European Union; but it has followed suit regardless on its own steam and via its own policies.) Many of these measures are coming in the wake of a serious curtailment of travel anyway — a trend that has had a severe impact already on airlines and other companies in the travel and tourism industries. The impact on tech in Europe (and indeed, globally) has been a palpable chilling effect. Apart from the direct hit that travel, tourism and related startups are feeling, overall it has meant a drastic wave of event cancellations, meetings and overall activity. There has, of course, remained a commitment to continue business as usual, or at least try to, and that will hopefully be a reality in the medium term, even if for now, it’s wheels down, wheels down. |
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