In an extraordinary measure to stop the spread of Coronavirus, Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has issued a decree effectively quarantining the entire Lombardy area until April 3.
A draft decree would extend the quarantined areas, so-called “red-zones”, ordering people not to enter or leave the region. The gates at Milan’s main train station were also closed. The region currently considered a “red zone” includes 11 northern provinces, including the cities of Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Pesaro and Urbino, Alessandria, Asti, Novara, Verbano Cusio Ossola, Vercelli, Padua, Treviso and Venice.
A map of #Italy's regions that will be likely put under a policed lockdown tomorrow in a desperate attempt to stop the #coronavirus epidemic. Includes major cities such as Milan and Venice This is what China did in January. This will help focus minds in the rest of Europe. pic.twitter.com/gCaDsDNFjQ
— Bojan Pancevski (@bopanc) March 7, 2020
Reuters reports that this comes after the number of infections rose by more than 1,200 in the past 24 hours. In all the areas covered by the decree, schools will be closed at least until April 3, and all museums, gyms and swimming pools will be also shut and leave is cancelled for all healthcare workers.
So far, Italy has confirmed 5,883 cases.
Emirates has also announced a new waiver policy in order to provide customers more flexibility, choice and value for all booked tickets issued on or from March 7, until March 31, 2020.
