Geneva, Mar 8 (AFP) The World Health Organization on Sunday saluted Italy''s "genuine sacrifices" after the government put a quarter of the population under lockdown to try to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"The government & the people of Italy are taking bold, courageous steps aimed at slowing the spread of the #coronavirus & protecting their country & world," WHO director-genral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a tweet.

"They are making genuine sacrifices. @WHO stands in solidarity with Italy & is here to continue supporting you." (AFP) IND

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