A general view shows the municipal hospital in Codogno, southeast of Milan. — AFP photo
ROME: The number of coronavirus cases in Italy has jumped to over 100, the president of the Lombardy region said yesterday, as northern towns struggle to contain rising infections.
“More than 100 cases” have now been reported throughout the country, Attilio Fontana told SkyTG24 television, with 89 of those in Lombardy, centred around the small town of Codogno, about 70 kilometres southeast of Milan.
Responding to a rising number of new cases, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Saturday announced that 11 towns in Italy’s north would be placed under quarantine, affecting about 50,000 people.
Two people have already died from the so-called COVID-19 epidemic in Italy, which was the first country to ban direct flights to and from China in January.
A municipal information sign reading ‘Coronavirus, the population is invited as a precautionary measure to remain at home’ is pictured in the village of Casalpusterlengo, southeast of Milan. — AFP photo
First to contract the virus were two Chinese tourists who were placed under quarantine in Rome and remain there.
Another man, who was also held at the same hospital in Rome, has since recovered and been released, authorities said.
The number of those infected also includes people living in four other regions of Italy.
Authorities have warned that the number of cases – which were 79 on Saturday – may continue to rise.
The virus which broke out in China in December where more than 2,200 people have died has now spread to more than 25 countries.
In Codogno’s centre, the pharmacy remained open on the orders of the local authorities.
“We’re all scared, but we keep our fingers crossed,” the pharmacy’s owner Rosa Cavalli told AFP.
She said protective masks had long sold out but customers were stocking up on disinfectants, alcohol and bleach.
“Most of (the masks) came from China and they’ve kept them, they need them, they’re in trouble,” she added.
One woman ventured out to buy drinks and snacks from one of the few vending machines in the town.
“We’re trying to stay calm because in these situations it’s easy to panic,” said Erica, who only gave her first name, adding that she was buying food because it wasn’t clear whether supermarkets would remain open. — AFP
“I’m a little scared because we can all be infected. I work in a restaurant and have a lot of contact with people,” she added. — AFP