Italy lockdown strengthened as death toll rockets

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has ordered all non-essential shops except supermarkets, food stores, and chemists to close down amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases and death toll in Italy, the worst-hit country outside of China. (File Photo By: By Presidenza della Repubblica, Public Domain)

Italy has heightened its lockdown measures as the country’s death toll of 196 on Wednesday rose to 827 in 24 hours due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that has spread through different parts of the world.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has ordered all non-essential shops except supermarkets, food stores, and chemists to close down amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases and death toll in Italy, the worst-hit country outside of China.

“We will only be able to see the effects of this great effort in a couple of weeks,” Conte said, referring to the daily bulletins announcing the number of new cases and fatalities.

The number of confirmed cases in the country rose to 12,462 from a previous 10,149.

The Italian government has executed the strictest quarantine rules by banning public gatherings and required citizens to stay indoors unless travelling is necessary. Universities and schools will remain closed until April 3.

“The country needs responsibility from all of us, the responsibility of 60 million Italians that are making small and large sacrifices everyday,” Conte said during a televised interview.

The newly implemented lockdown for the coronavirus quarantine will take effect starting from Thursday until March 25, according to the Prime Minister’s office.

Trains and public transport will still operate as well as necessary services such as plumbers, mechanics, and petrol stations.

The country has the oldest population in Europe, with 23% of its people aged above 65, in which, experts suspect that this may be the reason why the fatality rate is higher by 6.6% compared to the rest of the world, as the elderly are more susceptible to the virus.

More than 126,000 people have been infected by the coronavirus disease with at least 4,600 deaths recorded worldwide, which pushed the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the virus a pandemic.