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Europe
Italy's coronavirus death toll surges as Lombardy seeks tougher curbs
2020-03-14
[France24] The death toll from coronavirus in Italy has jumped by 250 in the last 24 hours, the biggest daily increase ever recorded by any country, as the worst-affected Lombardy region asked for a complete shutdown of factories and offices.

The government this week imposed drastic curbs nationwide, shutting bars, restaurants and most shops, and banning non-essential travel in an effort to halt the worst outbreak of the disease outside China.

The measures so far show no sign of slowing the number of deaths, which rose by 25% in a day to 1,266, the head of the Civil Protection Agency said on Friday.

The total number of cases rose to 17,660 from 15,113 the day before, an increase of some 17%.

Lombardy's health chief Giulio Gallera said the government's restrictions were not enough for the region which surrounds the financial capital Milan and accounts for three quarters of all the country's fatalities.

"We are asking for an exception to be made for Lombardy," he told RAI 3 television, calling for the closure of factories, offices and public transport in the region. "If we can resist for at least eight days, maybe we will see things turn around."

There was no indication of whether Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte would agree to further curbs in Italy's business heartlands, with the government increasingly concerned about the long-term scars the virus will leave on the fragile economy.

Some companies, such as car maker Fiat Chrysler, have decided to shut down part of their operations, while premium brakes maker Brembo announced on Friday it would temporarily stop work at all its four Italian plants.

"Today we have two objectives: Taking care of the sick and preventing infections, and taking care of our economy," Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Friday.

He was speaking at an event to thank China for sending 31 tonnes of medical supplies, including masks and respirators, to Italy, as well as a team of doctors.

"Italy is not alone," Di Maio said. "China is getting back on its feet and soon we too will be back on our feet."
Posted by:Besoeker

#6  Disclosure: I've had a passport since I was 16 years old.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2020-03-14 18:35  

#5  Well, EC, it's like this. Going back 10 years or more the media in the US has had a fetish about Americans "who don't have, never have had" a passport. Needless to say, people without a passport are a lesser breed as far as the media and elites are concerned. So, there's a degree of bifurcation here (not absolute by any means) Be that as it may, many of the returning from Italy crowd will infect their Trump hating urban neighbors and that's a two sided coin for sure. Time will tell.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2020-03-14 18:34  

#4  Almost all infections in Bavaria can be traced back to Germans returning from Italy, not Italians traveling to Bavaria. So REALLY look after returning Americans.
Posted by: European Conservative   2020-03-14 17:54  

#3  Thanks for the timely update EC.
Posted by: Besoeker   2020-03-14 17:41  

#2  Italy's numbers of newly infected is slowing down... "only" 17% per day. This means the lockdown is working. Numbers in France, Spain and Germany are jumping 50%, even more in the UK.

Radical social distancing may actually have worked in China, if the numbers in Italy are any indication. Too early to tell though.

I expect the lockdown to happen here early next week. Nobody will care about a U.S. travel ban as nobody will be traveling anyway. The overwhelming majority og passengers was going to be returning Americans anyway.

Supermarkets were well stocked today with everything except - indeed - toilet paper. Paper tissues were no problem. We went at 7am, not many customers. Picked up lots of fresh fruits but otherwise we're set.
Posted by: European Conservative   2020-03-14 17:38  

#1  Metroids can't not be exposed.
Time to toughen the immune response.
Posted by: Skidmark   2020-03-14 12:04  

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