The coronavirus in the west continues to spread across various regions but Italy remains one of the hardest-hit countries as the total deaths in the country reached 366 on Sunday.
Italy Sees 133 Deaths in a Day
The total CoVID-19 death toll on Sunday in Italy was at 133, marking the biggest death rate yet in the country within 24 hours.
According to Al Jazeera, the infection rate also surged to 7,375 in total after Sunday recorded a 1,247 spike in new cases detected in the country. The said figure accounts for a whopping 25 percent surge in new coronavirus cases.
Lombardy Lockdown Prompts School Closures
News of over 130 new deaths in Italy came after the government announced a lockdown in Lombardy. Around 16 million people need to ask special permission from the authorities if they need to travel outside the region, BBC reported.
Due to the spike in new cases and more travel restrictions for residents of Lombardy, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that schools will be shuttered across the country.
Aside from educational facilities, museums, gyms, and even nightclubs will be shut down temporarily as the country battles with the coronavirus.
Britons 'Free to Fly' Home
British nations who are touring around the northern parts of Italy are "free to return home" if they choose to do so, the U.K. Foreign Office confirmed, according to Mail Online.
Italy's northern region is the hardest-hit among other parts of the country. While Britons will be allowed to fly home if they want to without facing penalties, Italian citizens living in the locked-down areas will face potential jail time if they leave their towns.
While British nationals will be allowed to leave the country, they are advised to undergo self-quarantine in their homes once they touch down in the United Kingdom.
Plan to Quarantine Around Half Of Italy Leaked
The past few days have been a rollercoaster ride for many Italians. However, fears and rash decisions have also been rampant, especially after someone working at the Italian government reportedly leaked a document that presented the country's plan in battling the CoVID-19 crisis.
According to a Forbes report, the leak came out over the weekend wherein it was indicated that the government was planning to quarantine up to half of the entire country.
Due to the leak, people started riding trains and booking tickets as if in efforts to reach their families and loved ones. Citizens who are not in lockdown have started traveling to where they can be closer to their loved ones as the coronavirus battle enhances.
It remains to be seen whether Italy will decide to quarantine more regions outside the North. Experts believe this decision will depend heavily on the number of confirmed coronavirus cases outside Lombardy.
Milan's Economy becomes Sacrificial Lamb
Italy's northern region is considered the "wealthy" side of the country. It is where Milan, the cultural capital, is located. It is also one of the top tourist destinations for many travelers around the world.
A lockdown that includes Milan will unfortunately put the capital's economy in limbo for at least up to April 3 following Conte's declaration of a lockdown. Venice's tourism sector is also expected to be put on the line.
Experts believe the draconian move of locking down Lombardy will most likely impact Milan's economic prowess as people will start thinking twice whether they want to visit an area that is now enclosed in Europe's hardest-hit country.
Due to the spike in new deaths and new confirmed CoVID-19 cases, Italy has become the hardest-hit country outside China. Previously, the biggest outbreak was in South Korea.
