The coronavirus continues to expand in Italy. Since the start of the epidemic, the virus has killed 107 people in the country, according to an official report published Wednesday, March 4, which reports 3 089 cases in Italy. To combat the spread of the disease, the government announced the same day closing all schools and universities from Thursday until March 15.

The previous assessment, dating from Tuesday, gave 79 dead and 2,502 cases, an increase in 24 hours from 28 dead and 587 cases, according to the assessment given by the head of Civil Protection, Angelo Borrelli.

"3.47% of those infected have died and 8.94% are cured," said Angelo Borrelli during a press conference, explaining that "the affected regions are strengthening the reception structures to provide intensive care" and that there are no notable difficulties.

The deaths took place mainly in the north of the country, especially in Lombardy, the Milan region, which recorded 73 deaths. Veneto, around Venice, counts nine dead, and in Emilia-Romagna, the region of Bologna, six dead were counted.

If these three territories represent the three Italian regions most affected, the main focus of the Italian epidemic has been identified in Codogno, 60 km south of Milan.

School closings, quarantine, tests ...

To fight the spread of the virus, Italy has taken drastic measures. Rome announced Wednesday that all schools and universities will be closed in the country from Thursday until March 15.

"The decision was not easy, but we took it as a precaution," Education Minister Lucia Azzolina commented to the press.

Apart from the closure of schools, eleven municipalities in the north of the country have so far been placed in the "red zone", under quarantine. Among the 1,346 people still hospitalized on Wednesday, 295 are in intensive care, still around 10% of cases.

On the other hand, the thousand others do not require hospital care or have not developed symptoms but are quarantined at home.

Italy has so far carried out 29,837 tests on people who may have been infected, one of the highest number of exams in Europe. The Italian protocol provides for testing all people who have been in contact with a person diagnosed positive.

Sports competitions are also turned upside down: the two semi-finals return from the Italian Cup have been postponed, the government even plans to play matches behind closed doors for the next two weeks.

With AFP

The France 24 week summary invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Download the app

google-play-badge_FR