Italy was under a week-long lockdown on Tuesday after the government extended a travel ban from Lombardy to the entire country in a drastic bid to halt the world’s second-biggest coronavirus outbreak.
“There won’t be just a red zone,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said.
Passengers at train stations must sign police forms self-certifying that they are travelling for “proven work needs,’’ situations of necessity, health reasons or to return home.
Italian doctors celebrated one small victory after the first patient diagnosed with the illness, a 38-year-old Unilever worker, was moved out of intensive care and began breathing on his own. But the virus’ rapid spread was forcing them to operate like war-time medics, triaging patients to decide who get access to scarce ICU beds.
“Unfortunately we’re only at the beginning,” said Dr. Massimo Galli, head of infectious disease at Milan’s Sacco hospital.
Here is a summary of the measures as set out in the decree, which first applied to Lombardy and 14 other provinces from Sunday night.
Restrictions on movement
- Movement are severely restricted on up to an estimated 16 million people in the entire country. Only journeys for urgent, verified professional reasons, or for emergency situations, or for health reasons, will be permitted.
- People showing symptoms of respiratory problems and fever are strongly advised to stay at home and limit all social contact, including with their doctor.
- People confirmed to have the coronavirus will be compulsorily confined to their homes.
- Companies, both public and private, are encouraged to put their staff on leave.
Public gatherings
- All sports competitions and events, whatever their nature, are suspended. Only those linked to Olympic Games preparations, or major national or international events will be allowed – and only behind closed doors.
- All ski resorts are closed until further notice.
- All cultural, sporting, religious or festive events are suspended. Cinemas, pubs, theatres, museums, dance schools, gaming arcades, casinos, nightclubs and other such places will have to remain closed.
- Bars and restaurants can remain open from 0800 to 1800 CET as long as they respect a security distance of at least a metre between customers.
- Schools and universities must remain closed and all exams suspended.
- Shopping centres and major shops must remain closed on public holidays and preceding days.
- Religious venues remain open on condition they respect the one-metre distance rule. However religious ceremonies such as weddings and baptisms are banned until further notice.
Coronavirus cases rise
Italy registered 1,807 more confirmed cases as of Monday evening, for a national total of 9,172 and 463 deaths.