Italy Quarantines 16 Million In Northern Regions

Chaos reigns as southern regions warn people who emigrated to the north not to return home; WHO praises Rome’s decision

Italy announced a sweeping quarantine on Sunday for its northern regions, igniting travel chaos as it restricted the movements of 16 million people — more than one quarter of its population — in a bid to halt the relentless march of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) across Europe.

Confusion reigned from Milan to Venice as residents and tourists tried to figure out exactly when and how the new rules were coming into effect. Travellers rushed to train stations and crammed aboard standing-room only trains.

PM signs decree

After Italy saw its biggest one-day jump in infections on Saturday, Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte signed a quarantine decree overnight for the country’s prosperous north. On Sunday, death toll rose by 133 to 366, the second-highest in the world. The number of infections went up by a single-day record of 1,492 to hit 7,375.