16 million people quarantined in Italy over coronavirus

About 16 million people in Italy have been under quarantine in a bid to stop the rapid spread of coronavirus.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Sunday issued a decree restricting the movement of 16 million people in the country including the Lombardy region and at least 14 provinces in neighboring regions. Milan, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, and Venice are also affected.

The Prime Minister also announced the closure of schools, gyms, museums, nightclubs and other venues across the whole country.

 Conte speaking said “We are facing an emergency, a national emergency. We have to limit the spread of the virus and prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed.”

 The measures will last until the 3rd of April 2020 and comes a day after Italy reported its biggest daily increase in coronavirus cases since its outbreak last month. The number of infected people rose to 1,247, taking their total to 5,883 with the death toll rising to 233.