When Giuseppe Conte — who is the current prime minister of Italy — signed a decree on the morning of Sunday, March 8, 2020, most of northern Italy was under lockdown as a result of the biggest jump in infections in one day in Italy. It was the toughest and most restrictive measure taken to control the 2019 Novel Coronavirus outside of mainland China…
Now the Entire Country of Italy is Under Quarantine
…until the entire country of Italy became under lockdown effective as of today, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. This means that greater than 60 million people are under quarantine through at least Friday, April 3, 2020.
“The only travel allowed will be for proven work reasons, for health conditions or other cases of necessity”, according to this article written by of the Associated Press. “Under the extended measures, casual errands are out. The time-honored Italian tradition of an espresso at the corner cafe — gone. Customers now are required to take tables, if possible, the one furthest from the bar. The evening aperitif is also frowned upon; bars close at 6 p.m. Even going to the grocery store is a major expedition.”
At the time this article was written, at least 3,809 people have died of the minimum of 109,577 confirmed cases in 104 countries and territories worldwide, according to Situation Report 49 of the World Health Organization pertaining to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, which is also known as COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV. Of those statistics, at least 366 of those deaths occurred in Italy, where 7,375 confirmed cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus have been reported.
The majority of the cases were reported in the Lombardy region when the 2019 Novel Coronavirus was first discovered in Italy. Travel alerts were first issued by airlines for northern Italy on Tuesday, February 25, 2020; but those travel alerts were extended to all of Italy two days later.
Suspension of Services and Events in the Entire Country of Italy
Cafes and restaurants will be permitted to stay open between 6:00 in the morning and 6:00 in the evening on the condition that business owners can ensure people are distanced safely by at least one meter. Any violation of this condition by any business will mean the suspension of its operations.
Although most of northern Italy will be covered under the new lockdown decree, numerous measures will also apply to the entire country of Italy — including the suspension of:
- Congress and meetings that involve health care personnel and servants of essential public services
- Dance schools, pubs, disco and bingo
- Religious ceremonies — including funerals
- Schools and university classes
- Sports events
- Theaters and cinema
Summary
With its population of greater than 60 million people under quarantine, Italy has now matched the lockdown by China of some 60 million people in central Hubei province in late January, which is now in its sixth week.
Do you believe that the mass quarantine of the entire country of Italy is necessary; not enough action has been taken by officials in Italy; or this is an overblown reaction to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus?
This article is the latest in a series pertaining to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus in an effort to get the facts out with information derived from reliable sources.
Other articles at The Gate which pertain to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus include:
- 16 Million People Quarantined in Northern Italy
- Are Masks Effective Against 2019 Novel Coronavirus That People are Stealing Them?
- As Many as 46,000 People May Have Died in the United States Alone From…
- Lodging Companies Issue Travel Waivers and Elite Status Extensions 2020 Due to 2019 Novel Coronavirus
- Update: More Airlines Suspended Change and Cancellation Fees 2020 Due To Coronavirus
- Airlines Which Suspended Change and Cancellation Fees 2020 Due To Coronavirus
- Should You Be Concerned About Coronavirus?
- Travel Alert February 2020: Italy Now Affected by 2019 Novel Coronavirus
- Travel Alert February 2020: Northern Italy Now Affected by 2019 Novel Coronavirus
- Travel Alert February 2020: South Korea Now Affected by 2019 Novel Coronavirus
- A Deal to Antarctica Because of 2019 Novel Coronavirus — But Hurry
- Update: Do Not Travel to China Due to 2019 Novel Coronavirus, Says United States Department of State
- Travel Alert January 2020: Hong Kong Now Affected by 2019 Novel Coronavirus
- Update January 2020: Additional Airlines Issue Travel Waivers for 2019 Novel Coronavirus
- Travel Alert January 2020: 2019 Novel Coronavirus Affecting Air Travel
All photographs ©2004 and ©2014 by Brian Cohen.
