Virus lockdowns and quarantines must respect rights: UN

18:25, March 06, 2020

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  Italy quarantines millions in virus lockdown around Venice, Milan

  Tourists wearing protective masks as a protection against the Coronavirus visit the Milan Cathedral on March 2, 2020.(Photo: AFP)Millions of people were placed under forced quarantine in northern Italy early Sunday as the government approved drastic measures in an attempt to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus that is sweeping the globe.Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Twitter he had signed off on plans to strictly limit movement into and out of a large area including Venice and the financial capital Milan for nearly a month."#Coronavirus, the new decree is finally approved," Conte wrote, confirming reports published by Italys Corriere Della Sera newspaper and other media.With more than 230 fatalities, Italy has recorded the most deaths from the COVID-19 disease of any country outside China.The total number of people infected with the virus worldwide has passed 100,000 while 3,500 have died across 95 nations and territories.According to Corriere Della Sera, without a "serious" reason that cannot be postponed people will not be allowed to enter or leave the entire Lombardy region around Milan -- home to 10 million -- as well as areas around and including Venice and the cities of Parma and Rimini.Museums, nightclubs, gyms and casinos will be closed in these areas, the newspaper reported, adding that the measures would be in place until April 3.

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  Italy under quarantine must learn from China

  (Photos: Xinhua)An entire nation of more than 60 million people woke up on March 10under quarantine. This is the most drastic move made by Italy since the outbreak of COVID-19 and it is a much needed measure that reflects the escalating numbers of COVID-19 infections and fatalities across the country.According to data from the Italian Civil Protection Agency, as of March 9 the total number of positive cases in Italy rose to 9,172, of which 1,797 were added in just one single day. The number of COVID-19 deaths rose from 366 to 473, making Italy the hardest-hit country after China.When the northern areas of Lombardy and the 14 provinces were locked down on March 8, around 25,000 people rushed to take the southbound buses and trains in the hope to return to their hometowns in southern Italy. This enhanced the possibility of wider spread in the peninsula and has not helped the containment of the virus.Furthermore, chaos also occurred in Italian prisons as many detainees have rioted against the government for the suspended family visits. This resulted in the escape and death of many of the inmates.The Italian government soon realized that measures must be tougher and that peoples habits need to be changed in order contain the further spread. The new measures require all citizens to stay home and to not leave their residences, unless they demonstrate a real need to travel for work, for medical reasons and other emergencies until April 3.Moreover, all schools and universities remain closed and any outdoor public gatherings will be prohibited.As the number of cases has kept rising considerably between the end of February and the beginning of March, many Italian officials were highly optimistic and positive. They encouraged people to not lose their habits and to do their social gatherings as usual without being affected by this fear.Today, many politicians, such as Nicola Zingaretti, president of the central region of Lazio and party leader of Italys Democrat...

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  Milan, Venice locked down as virus rages

  A woman wears a protective face mask at Roma Termini railway station, after the Italian government imposed a virtual lockdown on the north of the country, in Rome, Italy, March 8, 2020.Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte made the order, placing 16 million people in 15 provinces in quarantine and t