Rome (Italy) | Jagran News Desk: Italy has decided to call in its Army to enforce the lockdown in the state as the country witnessed 627 new coronavirus deaths on Friday, the largest single-day toll anywhere in the world since the pandemic began.
Lombardy region has been the worst affected region in Italy and the number of new COVID-19 cases is yet to plateau despite the government’s best efforts.
“The request to use the Army has been accepted... and 114 soldiers will be on the ground throughout Lombardy... it is still too little, but it is positive,” said President of Lombardy region Attilio Fontana, as quoted by CNN.
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“Unfortunately we are not seeing a change of trend in the numbers, which are rising,” Fontana added.
So far, the deadly coronavirus – also known as ‘COVID-19’ – has claimed the lives over 4,000 in Italy. In the past three day, Italy has seen more than 1,500 fatalities from COVID-19. The Mediterranean country now accounts for 36.6 per cent of the world’s coronavirus deaths.
"There are so many people walking around who have the virus and who are at risk of infecting others," Matteo Bassetti, the director of the infectious diseases department at Genoa's San Martino clinic, told Italy's AGI news agency.
"The 40,000 cases we are talking about could actually be 100 times higher," Bassetti added.
In order to control the outbreak in the country, the Italian government has decided to extend a ban on public gatherings and the shutdown of almost all businesses past their March 25 deadline.
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The government is also considering even further restrictions on its already locked-down population to control the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus.
"In the next 24 to 48 hours, new restrictions are possible," Italy's minister of regional affairs Francesco Boccia said, as quoted by AFP.
Regional leaders and city mayors are also urging the Italian government to adopt even tougher restrictions such as a ban on outdoor exercises and the closure of all stores on Sundays.
(With agency inputs)