Italy quarantines more than 15 million people in coronavirus lockdown Sunday March 08,2020

More than 15 million people were placed under forced quarantine in northern Italy early Sunday March 08,2020 as the government approved drastic measures in an attempt to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus that is sweeping the globe.

 

The areas quarantined are: Lombardy, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Pesaro, Urbino, Alessandria, Asti, Novara, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Vercelli, Padua, Treviso and Venice.

A total of 11 towns in Italy were already considered part of a 'red zone', meaning they are the worst-hit areas. 

Southern regions of the country warned hundreds of thousands of its people who emigrated to work in the north of the country not to return home.

Without a "serious" reason that cannot be postponed, such as urgent work or family issues, people will not be allowed to enter or leave the quarantine zones

Museums, nightclubs, gyms and casinos will be closed in these places, with people advised to stay at home as much as possible, the newspaper said, adding that the restrictions would be in place until April 3

People will be allowed to return home from outside these regions, while bars and restaurants are allowed to remain open provided it is possible for customers to stay a metre (three feet) away from one another.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Twitter he had signed off on plans to strictly limit movement in and out of large areas including Venice and the financial capital Milan for nearly a month

Italy has recorded the most deaths from the COVID-19 disease of any country outside China, where the outbreak began in December.

Authorities on Sunday said the coronavirus death toll mounted by 133 in 24 hours to a total of 366.

The number of cases also jumped from 5,883 to 7,375 during the same period

Italy has the world's second oldest population after Japan, according to the World Bank, and older people appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the new coronavirus.

Sunday's AC Milan and Genoa CFC Serie A football match at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza was played behind closed doors to limit the spread of deadly coronavirus

Empty seats inside the Allianz Stadium before the match between Juventus and Inter Milan is played behind closed doors

St. Mark's square in Venice is almost empty following the wide-spread quarantine

The Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua is nearly deserted