Customers order drinks at a deserted café terrace on Piazza Vittorio in Turin, Italy, on March 9, 2020, as Italy battles the world’s second-worst viral outbreak after China. (Photo by AFP)

The whole of Italy has been turned into a protected zone by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in a desperate attempt to tackle the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

The announcement came a day after the number of infected people leaped to over 9,000 and the death toll rose to more than 460.

The government has issued a decree to seal off more than 60 million residents in Italy. The measure, which has been dubbed ’I stay home,’ will come into effect on Tuesday.

Italians will be allowed to travel outside their residence only for proven professional needs and health issues and to leave their households only for pressing reasons. Schools will remain closed until April 3 and all gatherings in public places will be prohibited.

Over the weekend, the Italian government quarantined the Lombardy region as well as 14 neighboring provinces. Milan, one of Europe’s busiest cities, has nearly turned into a ghost town since it was put in lockdown.

Social unrest has risen across Italy since the coronavirus outbreak began. Some residents from the quarantined areas have attempted to flee by car or train to escape the lockdown in the country’s north.

Many inmates are also asking for an amnesty due to the deadly contagion.

SOURCE: PRESS TV