A swathe of northern Italy was sealed off as authorities struggled to contain the spread and impact of the deadly coronavirus, AFP reported.

An area home to a quarter of Italy's population was effectively shuttered — including Milan and Venice — mimicking a lockdown at the disease's epicentre in China.

Italy's lockdown will see police setting up controls at train stations, stopping all cars on main roads in and out, flights from Milan suspended and penalties of three months in jail or a 206 euro ($233) fine for flouting the rules.

Sunday’s latest figures showed that the number of coronavirus cases in Italy jumped 25pc in a 24-hour period to 7,375, while deaths climbed 57pc to 366 deaths.

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