Italy mulls further crackdown with no virus peak in sight

Published March 20, 2020
A vehicle of the Italian police sanitizes a street amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Milan, Italy March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo
A vehicle of the Italian police sanitizes a street amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Milan, Italy March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo

Italy's government said Friday it is considering even further restrictions on its already locked-down population as the country reels under the continued spread of the coronavirus, AFP reports.

The country now has the most coronavirus fatalities in the world, after it surpassed China on Thursday with a rise of 427 deaths to an overall toll of 3,405.

“In the next 24 to 48 hours, new restrictions are possible,” Italy's minister of regional affairs Francesco Boccia said Friday, citing the possibility of banning open-air activities.

A vehicle of the Italian police sanitises a street amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease  in Milan, Italy, on March 20, 2020. — Reuters
A vehicle of the Italian police sanitises a street amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease in Milan, Italy, on March 20, 2020. — Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...