Italy’s PM announces that the whole country is being put on lockdown due to worsening coronavirus outbreak
In an attempt to contain the country’s coronavirus outbreak, Italy is now on lockdown. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte says citizens will only be permitted to travel for work or family emergencies.
As the coronavirus continues to spread in several countries, Italy has been hit worse than most. According to the BBC, their death toll climbed from 97 people to 463, just today. Conte announced the emergency measure during a televised address on Monday. “Our habits must be changed now: we must all give up something for the good of Italy,” he said.
Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has announced that the whole of the country is being put on lockdown in an attempt to contain the #coronavirus outbreak.
For the latest on #COVID19, click here: https://t.co/BnjqqFZLOz pic.twitter.com/hFF2zYmuMB
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 9, 2020
The lockdown includes a cancellation of all sporting events in the country, even football matches. Also banned are any public gatherings, including weddings, funerals, gyms, clubs, etc. It’s being noted that this is the first time since WWII that Italy is limiting the movements of citizens.
BREAKING NEWS:
official:
for the first time since World War II,
on 9 March 2020,
Italy ordered to limit freedom of movements of citizens and put entire country on lockdown due to #coronavirus outbreak pic.twitter.com/nHrduj94xx
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) March 9, 2020
Italian PM has just announced that lockdown extends to the whole of Italy, movement restricted to reasons of work, health and emergencies
— Alberto Nardelli (@AlbertoNardelli) March 9, 2020
BREAKING: Italian PM Giuseppe Conte announces that the lockdown area will be extended to the whole of Italy, not just the most severely affected areas of the north. Unprecedented measures, in peacetime.
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) March 9, 2020
*BREAKING: Italy's PM Conte just put ALL of ITALY UNDER the same LOCKDOWN rules as the north. He calls it the "I STAY HOME" decree. People can only move around for work reasons (transport of essential goods), for other pressing needs, or for health reasons. Effective tomoro a.m.
— Rachel Donadio (@RachelDonadio) March 9, 2020
Of course, the situation in Italy serves as a dark reminder that other countries might not be far behind such drastic measures. Without early testing, the virus has been allowed to potentially spread.
All travel in Italy is now officially banned unless strictly necessary.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T PURSUE AGGRESSIVE EARLY TESTING.
If we do nothing, this will be the US in a month. https://t.co/tu2bUACwDl
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) March 9, 2020
As the outbreak continues worldwide, the Trump administration has taken steps to downplay the situation in America with the president constantly tweeting about his lack of concern for the potential pandemic.
So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020
A total of 9,172 people have been infected in Italy, the most widespread outbreak in all of Europe.
