This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51602007

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Coronavirus: Italy imposes strict lockdown in outbreak hotspots Coronavirus: Venice Carnival closes as Italy imposes lockdown
(about 1 hour later)
Italy has introduced "extraordinary measures" to tackle the spread of the biggest outbreak of the new coronavirus in Europe. Italian officials have cut short the Venice Carnival as they try to control what is now the worst outbreak of the coronavirus in Europe.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the emergency plan as the number of cases rose to more than 100. Authorities in the Veneto region said the event would end later on Sunday, two days earlier than scheduled.
The measures were imposed after two Italian citizens were confirmed to have died from the virus. Italy has by far the highest number of coronavirus cases in Europe, with 130. Two people have died.
A dozen towns in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto have been effectively quarantined under the plan. Italy has imposed strict quarantine restrictions in two northern "hotspot" regions close to Milan and Venice.
Around 50,000 people from towns in two northern regions have been asked to stay at home by authorities. About 50,000 people cannot enter or leave several towns in Veneto and Lombardy for the next two weeks without special permission. Even outside the zone, many businesses and schools have suspended activities, and sporting events have been cancelled including several top-flight football matches.
Mr Conte said it would now be forbidden to enter or leave the outbreak areas, unless special permission was granted. Elsewhere, authorities in South Korea and Iran are battling to control rising numbers of infections. South Korea has raised its coronavirus alert to the "highest level".
All school and sports activities have been suspended in those areas, including several Serie A football matches due to take place on Sunday. The new strain of coronavirus, which originated last year in Hubei province in China, causes a respiratory disease called Covid-19. China has seen more than 76,000 infections and 2,442 deaths. The virus has since spread to at least 11 other countries.
What is happening in Italy?
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Saturday that "extraordinary measures" would come into force to try to stem the rising number of coronavirus cases.
He said the quarantine restrictions could last for weeks.
Police, and if necessary the armed forces, will have the authority to ensure the regulations are enforced.Police, and if necessary the armed forces, will have the authority to ensure the regulations are enforced.
Italian authorities fear the virus has gone beyond the isolated clusters of cases in Lombardy and Veneto, making it difficult to contain. Angelo Borrelli, the head of Italy's Civil Protection Department, told reporters that 88 of the confirmed cases were in Lombardy, with 24 in Veneto with others in Piemonte, Emilia-Romagna and Lazio.
"The contagiousness of this virus is very strong and pretty virulent," Lombardy's health chief Giulio Gallera said. Italian officials say they are still trying to trace the source of the outbreak. Suspicions initially fell on a businessman who had returned to Lombardy from China, but he has tested negative, Italian media reported.
The new coronavirus originated in the Chinese province of Hubei last year, but has spread to 26 countries, where more than 1,400 cases and 11 deaths have been confirmed. The Venice Carnival had been due to close on Tuesday but regional president Luca Zaia told Sky TG24 television on Sunday that it would be suspended, along with other events, in a bid to combat the virus.
Chinese health authorities reported a decrease in the rate of deaths and new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday. Some 76,392 cases including 2,348 deaths have been confirmed in China. "From this evening, we plan to stop carnival and all sporting activities until 1 March," he said.
Universities in Milan have been closed and the city's mayor, Giuseppe Sala, said schools would also close their doors while the outbreak continued.
"As a precaution I think that the schools have to be closed in Milan. I will propose to the president of the region to enlarge the precaution to the entire metropolitan city area. It is just a precaution, we don't want to create panic," he said.
What is happening elsewhere?
On Sunday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the country faced "a grave turning point", and the next few days would be crucial in the battle to contain the outbreak.
South Korea has reported six deaths and more than 600 confirmed infections - the highest number outside China, although an outbreak of coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan, has also seen more than 600 cases.
"The government will raise the alert level to the highest level according to experts' recommendations," Mr Moon said.
Health officials revealed a further leap in the number of coronavirus cases with a cluster of infections linked to a hospital and to a religious group near the south-eastern city of Daegu.
The sixth death was confirmed at the Daenam Hospital, in Cheongdo, which treats the elderly and people with mental health issues. The hospital has seen more than 110 people infected including nine medical staff.
Of the 169 new cases announced in South Korea on Sunday, 95 of them are linked to a Christian sect in Daegu called the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said. The total number of cases connected to the church stands at 329.
On Sunday, China's President Xi Jinping described the outbreak as the "largest public health emergency" in the country's recent history.
He acknowledged "shortcomings" in China's response and said lessons must be learned.
On Saturday, Chinese authorities reported a decrease in the rate of deaths and new cases of the coronavirus.
But outside China, cases with no clear link to that country or other confirmed cases continue to rise, prompting concern from the World Health Organization (WHO).But outside China, cases with no clear link to that country or other confirmed cases continue to rise, prompting concern from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The head of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the greatest concern now was countries with weaker health systems, particularly in Africa.The head of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the greatest concern now was countries with weaker health systems, particularly in Africa.
South Korea has reported the largest number of confirmed infections after China and the outbreak on the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan, which has seen more than 600 cases.
In January, the WHO declared a global emergency over the outbreak of the new virus, which causes a respiratory disease called Covid-19.
Fever, fatigue and a dry cough are the most common symptoms for patients.
The proportion of people dying from the disease appears to be low, with most only developing mild symptoms and making a full recovery.