Italy extends coronavirus lockdown measures to entire country

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Italy has extended its coronavirus lockdown measures to the entire country.

All public gatherings will be banned and movement is being restricted across all regions under the nationwide actions that will affect 60 million people.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte said the new government decree will require all people to demonstrate a need to work, health conditions or other limited reasons to travel outside the areas where they live.

It comes after the number of people with the virus to have died in Italy, which has become the epicentre of the outbreak in Europe, on Monday increased by 97 to 463.

A person has his temperature checked at the entrance of the Dacia Arena stadium in Udine, Northern Italy
AP

"There won't be just a red zone," Mr Conte told reporters, referring to a lockdown of areas in northern Italy in place over the weekend. "There will be Italy" as a protected area, he said.

Italy is the country worst-hit by the COVID-19 outbreak outside China.

Mr Conte said the measures, which are set to come into effect on Tuesday, were being put in place to defend the most fragile members of society.

The updated restrictions will last until April 3, he said.

The nationwide decree also extends school closures in Italy until the same date. Schools in the centre and south of the country that were closed because of the virus had previously been slated to reopen on March 16.

Italy registered 1,807 more confirmed cases as of Monday evening, for a national total of 9,172. With the latest numbers, Italy again overtook South Korea as the country with the most cases outside China.

The premier also took to task the young people in much of Italy who have been gathering at night to drink and have a good time during the public health emergency that started on February 21.

"This night life...we can't allow this anymore," Conte said.

Pubs had been closed in northern Italy, with eateries and cafes also ordered to close at dusk. Now that crackdown has been extended to the entire country.

On Sunday the Italian PM had signed a decree attempting to lock down 16 million people in Italy's prosperous north.

The contagion only came to light near Italy's financial capital Milan on February 21. Since then there have been thousands of confirmed cases and hundreds of deaths, putting the country's national health system under massive strain.

Police officers and soldiers check passengers leaving from Milan main train station, Italy
AP

Mr Conte said any public gatherings, including in the open air, would be forbidden and announced that all sports events, including top flight Serie A soccer matches, would be suspended.

"There's no reason for the games to continue," Mr Conte said. "The fans will have to deal with it. We won't even allow gyms to be used."

Events around the world have been affected by the spreading virus, including Champions League football matches and Japan's professional baseball season.

Italy's top football division had resumed on Sunday with five games played in empty stadiums.

Serie A has not been cancelled since World War II.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

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