Rome - Italy imposed further draconian
restrictions on public life on Friday in an increasingly
desperate effort to halt coronavirus infections after the death
toll leapt by 627 in a single day, by far the biggest 24-hour
rise recorded anywhere.
The mayor of the most badly affected city, Bergamo in the
affluent northern region of Lombardy, said the true number of
fatalities from the pandemic in his area was four times higher
than was officially reported so far.
"Many of the elderly are dying in their houses or in old
people's homes, without anyone testing them either before or
after they die," Giorgio Gori told the Huffington Post.
He added that a dozen mayors of other cities had confirmed
the same thing to him.
Responding to requests by the governors of the worst-hit
regions, the national government in Rome said that from Saturday
all parks would be closed and people could only take exercise
around their homes.
"We have to do even more to contain the infections..Correct
behaviour from everyone is essential to win this battle," Health
Minister Roberto Speranza said after signing the latest
directive.
Authorities have become frustrated in recent days to see
people still out and about despite their appeals to stay indoors
for all but absolutely essential needs.
The latest crackdown effectively bans jogging and bicycle
rides, the only types of outdoor exercise that were allowed.
"We already have many hundreds of dead. What more is needed
before people understand the tragedy we are facing?" said
Sergio Venturi, head of the coronavirus response team in
Emilia-Romagna, another wealthy northern region hard-hit by the
virus.
The national death toll surged by 627 over the past 24 hours
to 4,032 - by far the world's largest daily rise in absolute
terms since the contagion emerged a month ago.
Italian soldiers patrol as the Duomo gothic cathedral is visible in background, in Milan. Picture: Luca Bruno/AP
WORSE THAN CHINA
Italy overtook China on Thursday as the country to register
the most deaths from the respiratory disease. Before Friday, it
had never recorded more than 475 fatalities in a single day.
The total number of cases climbed to 47,021 from a previous
41,035, the Civil Protection Agency said.
"Maybe the peak won't come next week, but the week after,"
the agency's chief, Angelo Borrelli, told Rai radio.
Lombardy, at the epicentre of the epidemic, said that about
100 soldiers would soon be deployed to help local police enforce
the lockdown, and called on the national government to impose
new measures to make sure Italians stay at home.
Officials are especially worried by the situation in Milan,
Lombardy's capital and Italy's second city.
The country's largest cities had so far been relatively
lightly hit by the outbreak, but there are now 3,804 people
infected in Milan, its financial hub, and the surrounding
hinterland.
The number of new cases in and around Milan rose by 526, or
16%, the largest daily increase for any region within Lombardy.
"The front line is now in Milan," Massimo Galli, head of the
infectious diseases unit at the city's Sacco hospital, told La
Repubblica newspaper. "I am extremely worried by what is
happening...There are still too many people out and about."
The Rome government last week ordered restaurants, bars and
most shops to shut down nationwide until March 25. In addition,
it shut schools and universities and told everyone to stay at
home for all but crucial reasons until April 3.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Thursday the measures
would have to be extended in scope and duration but gave no
further details.
Looking to boost morale, all Italian radio stations, for the
first time, simultaneously broadcast the national anthem at 11
a.m. (1000 GMT), followed by three iconic songs, "Azzurro," "La
canzone del sole" and "Nel blu dipinto di blu".
However, the national mood has grown gloomier this week as
the death toll has risen inexorably.
"It feels like we are in another world. I don't know, it is
a really bad feeling. I hope it will finish soon because really,
this is not good," said Rome resident Anna Marcotullio, 53.