Italy Puts Entire Country On Total Lockdown As Coronavirus Cases Hit Close To 10,000–Residents Told To Stay Home

#Roommates, the coronavirus outbreak is an increasingly deadly health concern worldwide—and the hardest hit country in the midst of it all is now taking drastic action. Italy has officially implemented a total lockdown, as the total number of coronavirus cases in the country are inching closer to 10,000.

@CNN reports, Italy has been put under a total lockdown, as Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that he is extending restrictions already currently in place in the north region of the country. At a press conference March 9^th, Conte said that “All the measure of the red zones are now extended to all of the national territory.” He also explained that Italy will move forward with a complete ban on all public events.

Under the initial lockdown rules, schools, universities, theaters, cinemas, bars, and nightclubs were closed in northern Italy. Additionally, religious ceremonies, including funerals and weddings, and sporting events were suspended or postponed. Meanwhile, local restaurants and bars were allowed to be open from 6am to 6pm, and malls and markets could open on weekdays if they could assure a meter (three feet) of distance between each client. However, with the stricter measures in place, these places will likely be closed for the foreseeable future.

97 people have died from coronavirus in Italy in the last 24 hours, bringing its total number of deaths to 463. To date, Italy has 9,172 cases, the most of any European country. The coordinator for intensive care in the crisis unit for the northern Lombardy region in Italy revealed that Lombardy’s health care system is “one step from collapse” due to the massive influx of patients seeking medical care despite the country simply not having enough hospital beds to treat those who are infected—and expects Italy to have 18,000 patients by the end of March.

The lockdown has also resulted in several prison riots that have left almost a dozen inmates dead, swept across 22 prisons and resulted in 43 escapes. In a statement, Italy explained the extreme action:

“This is of the utmost importance not only from a healthcare point of view but also economically. A temporary downturn in some sectors or areas of the country is preferable to a longer crisis that could spread to the whole economy via demand and supply effects.”

 The lockdown is already taking a severe financial toll on Italy and critics are concerned if it can recover in the long run.

Roommates, what are your thoughts on this?