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| Coronavirus: Italy in 'massive shock therapy' pledge to offset virus impact | Coronavirus: Italy in 'massive shock therapy' pledge to offset virus impact |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Italy's government has pledged to further increase spending in a "massive shock therapy" to offset the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. | Italy's government has pledged to further increase spending in a "massive shock therapy" to offset the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. |
| The country is struggling to adapt to the most restrictive measures since World War Two, introduced on Sunday. | The country is struggling to adapt to the most restrictive measures since World War Two, introduced on Sunday. |
| Up to 16 million people in northern Italy now need permission to travel under quarantine rules. | |
| With 366 deaths now confirmed, Italy is the worst-hit country in the world after China. | |
| All of Italy's 20 regions have confirmed cases, and the total number of infections now stands at 6,387. | All of Italy's 20 regions have confirmed cases, and the total number of infections now stands at 6,387. |
| How is the government responding? | How is the government responding? |
| On Monday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the government would pump more money to mitigate the impact of the outbreak. | On Monday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the government would pump more money to mitigate the impact of the outbreak. |
| He also said Italy would overcome the virus if people followed the rules, adding that the sacrifices required were for the good of all. | He also said Italy would overcome the virus if people followed the rules, adding that the sacrifices required were for the good of all. |
| Separately, Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said: "The government will spare no effort to ensure that a package of measures is agreed at the EU level in co-ordination with the whole international community." | |
| On Monday morning, the main share index in Milan, the industrial powerhouse at the heart of the worst-affected area, opened down more than 8%. | |
| What are the restrictive measures? | |
| The strict new quarantine measures would last until 3 April, the government said. | |
| They affect a quarter of the Italian population, and centre on the rich northern part of the country that powers its economy. | |
| The restrictions apply to the region of Lombardy and 14 other provinces: Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Pesaro and Urbino, Alessandria, Asti, Novara, Verbano Cusio Ossola, Vercelli, Padua, Treviso and Venice. | |
| The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to these areas. | |
| All schools and universities in the area are shut, as well as museums, cinemas and swimming pools. | |
| The government says only those with a serious work or family reason that cannot be postponed will be allowed in or out of the quarantine zone. | |
| Passengers departing on flights, except temporary visitors, will have to justify themselves, as will all those arriving by plane. | |
| There are controls at train stations to check temperatures. | |
| Cruise ships are forbidden to dock in Venice. | |
| The health system is under immense strain in Lombardy, a northern region of 10 million people where Milan is the main city. People are being treated in hospital corridors in the region. | |
| World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has praised Italy for making "genuine sacrifices". | |
| Until Sunday only about 50,000 people in northern Italy had been affected by quarantines. | |
| On Sunday, we drove up to the edge of the exclusion zone. We were expecting to see roadblocks or controls in place and we didn't see anything at all. | |
| Cars were going in both directions. It seemed as though the control of this restricted zone was quite loose, and that was a bit difficult to understand. | |
| Is this simply too big an area to control and close off in the heart of Europe, or are the restrictions gradually coming into place? | |
| We've seen pictures from inside the restricted cities, and the streets are very deserted, but we're not seeing police checkpoints as such. | |
| But perhaps this is going to be stepped up in the coming days because there are even penalties of three months in prison or a fine of €206 (£179; $235) for breaking the rules. | |
| The real fear is that, in the hours between the quarantine being announced and it coming into effect, people have gone from more infected areas in the north down south. | |
| There are healthcare facilities in southern Italy, far less developed than those here in the north, that are going to seriously struggle. | |
| What is the situation elsewhere? | |
| The number of infections worldwide is more than 107,000, with about 3,600 deaths. | |
| On Monday, China, which has recorded the highest number of fatalities, reported no new locally transmitted infection outside of Hubei province, where the outbreak began, for the second consecutive day. | |
| Although this indicates that the spread there is slowing, senior officials warned against reducing vigilance. | |
| In South Korea officials reported the lowest number of new cases in two weeks. | |
| Iran, one of the worst hotspots outside China, has now confirmed 6,566 infections and 194 deaths. | |
| However, the real figure is feared to be much higher. One report on Sunday, quoting a government envoy, said there had been 200 deaths in the northern Gilan province alone - but the figures were later removed. | |
| In France, the virus is spreading among MPs. Two more members of the National Assembly have tested positive, officials said late on Sunday. | |
| In total four deputies have been infected. Also on Sunday France reported 1,126 cases, a 19% increase in a day and the second largest number of infections in Europe after Italy. | |
| The French government has banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people. | |
| Have you or someone you know been affected by coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you or someone you know been affected by coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |