In Italy, two people died from coronavirus. In two days, 79 new cases were detected. Two areas are considered to be hotbeds of contamination. Unless specifically authorized by the authorities, it is now prohibited to enter or leave it until further notice. Codogno, a town of 15,000 inhabitants in Lombardy, about sixty kilometers south-east of Milan, is considered to be the center of the epidemic on the peninsula.
Deserted streets, bars and shops closed. According to accounts on the spot, Codogno looked like a ghost town on Saturday evening. Only a few pharmacies and grocery stores have been allowed to stay open. "All the shopping centers are closed. We can no longer leave the village. There is no army, but police in the vicinity who verify that we are not going out," a resident told Europe 1. "I agree with this measure because the authorities are trying to limit the spread of the virus," he added.
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Three football matches canceled
And to stem its spread, like Codogno, at least nine other surrounding towns have been placed in solitary confinement for the next two weeks. This draconian measure affects a total of nearly 50,000 people. And unless there is a specific reason, they are prohibited from traveling outside the area. It is in this region of northern Italy that around fifty new carriers of the coronavirus have been identified in recent days, most of them infected by a 38-year-old man, since hospitalized in intensive care.
Closure of businesses and schools, cancellation of cultural and sporting events, such as the postponement of three Series A matches scheduled for Sunday, Italy is taking multiple measures to avoid experiencing a health crisis similar to that of China. For his part, Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte calls on the Italians not to panic and to trust the measures taken by the health and political authorities.