In its efforts to control the spread of coronavirus, the Italian government has effectively locked down more than a quarter of its population. At the same time, the virus outbreak in the United States has also reached Washington DC and a political convention that was attended by US president Donald Trump and vice president Mike Pence.
Italy has reported more than 5,800 confirmed cases of coronavirus –that causes the disease called Covid-19, following confirmed reports of more than 1,200 cases of infection of the virus within just 24 hours. There have so far been 233 deaths in the country by the virus. The virus which originated in Wuhan city of China has now spread to almost 100 countries all over the world.
A decree that was meant to enact forced quarantine for the region of Lombardy – which is the place of residents of more than 10 million people in Italy, as well as the financial capital, Milan and multiple other provinces was signed by the Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte in the early hours of Sunday. The total number of Italians effectively put under quarantine is about 16 million.
Venice, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Pesaro and Urbino, Alessandria, Asti, Novara, Verbano Cusio Ossola, Vercelli, Padua, and Treviso are among the provinces that have been affected.
Under the new government decree, Italian authorities will have the power to impose fines on anyone who is found of entering or leaving Lombardy – the area of the country that is the worst affected. The lockdown for the region is scheduled to continue till April 3. The lockdown also imposes a ban on all public events, closing cinemas, theatres, gyms, discos and pubs. Gathering for religious ceremonies such as funerals and weddings have also been banned. Leave for workers in the healthcare industry have been cancelled.
The closure of schools across the country has also been prolonged until at least 3 April by the Italian government. The government has also mandated that major sporting events, such as Serie A football games, will be played without any gathering of spectators in the country.
A decree that prohibits movement in the north of Italy was also signed by the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.
Emergency responses are also being taken by the government in the United Kingdom which includes emergency legislation that would allow individuals to switch jobs and volunteer to work in the NHS or care homes, and for courts to use telephone and video links. It was reported that the government is also mulling the idea of banning of people over 70 years attending public events at the Cobra emergency committee.
While Italy imposed stringent quarantine actions, the United States is struggling to put up its own response to deal with the virus outbreak in the country. Authorities in Washington DC authorities reported a “presumptive positive” test result in a man, aged in his 50s, who was reported to have no history of contact with people infected with the virus.
Mayor Muriel Bowser said that the individual started top show signs of being infected by the virus in late February even though he apparently did not have any records of international travel or of any close contact with any individual who is known to have been infected by the virus. He remains in hospital.
(Source:www.theguardian.com)
Italy has reported more than 5,800 confirmed cases of coronavirus –that causes the disease called Covid-19, following confirmed reports of more than 1,200 cases of infection of the virus within just 24 hours. There have so far been 233 deaths in the country by the virus. The virus which originated in Wuhan city of China has now spread to almost 100 countries all over the world.
A decree that was meant to enact forced quarantine for the region of Lombardy – which is the place of residents of more than 10 million people in Italy, as well as the financial capital, Milan and multiple other provinces was signed by the Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte in the early hours of Sunday. The total number of Italians effectively put under quarantine is about 16 million.
Venice, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Pesaro and Urbino, Alessandria, Asti, Novara, Verbano Cusio Ossola, Vercelli, Padua, and Treviso are among the provinces that have been affected.
Under the new government decree, Italian authorities will have the power to impose fines on anyone who is found of entering or leaving Lombardy – the area of the country that is the worst affected. The lockdown for the region is scheduled to continue till April 3. The lockdown also imposes a ban on all public events, closing cinemas, theatres, gyms, discos and pubs. Gathering for religious ceremonies such as funerals and weddings have also been banned. Leave for workers in the healthcare industry have been cancelled.
The closure of schools across the country has also been prolonged until at least 3 April by the Italian government. The government has also mandated that major sporting events, such as Serie A football games, will be played without any gathering of spectators in the country.
A decree that prohibits movement in the north of Italy was also signed by the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.
Emergency responses are also being taken by the government in the United Kingdom which includes emergency legislation that would allow individuals to switch jobs and volunteer to work in the NHS or care homes, and for courts to use telephone and video links. It was reported that the government is also mulling the idea of banning of people over 70 years attending public events at the Cobra emergency committee.
While Italy imposed stringent quarantine actions, the United States is struggling to put up its own response to deal with the virus outbreak in the country. Authorities in Washington DC authorities reported a “presumptive positive” test result in a man, aged in his 50s, who was reported to have no history of contact with people infected with the virus.
Mayor Muriel Bowser said that the individual started top show signs of being infected by the virus in late February even though he apparently did not have any records of international travel or of any close contact with any individual who is known to have been infected by the virus. He remains in hospital.
(Source:www.theguardian.com)
