Italian authorities have introduced sweeping measures to prevent the spread (Picture: PA/EPA)

The number of people infected by coronavirus in Italy has risen by around 20% in one day to 21,157.

A further 175 have been killed by the Sars-like disease in the past 24 hours, bringing the country’s death toll to 1,441. A little more than half of those new cases occurred in the northern region of Lombardy, which has been the worst affected area in Europe.

The country has been put on lockdown with strict emergency measures in place to prevent the deadly bug’s spread.

Bars, restaurants, sports stadiums, schools and cinemas have been shut down and people who refuse to self-isolate knowing they are infected with Covid-19 could face legal action. Italy is the worst hit country in Europe and in the world outside of China. Its death toll surged by 25% yesterday – the largest increase since the outbreak began.


A man carries out sanitization operations at a neighbourhood in Rome (Picture: EPA)

The fatality rate in Italy is around 6.8%, double the World Health Organisation’s global estimate (Picture: PA)

Personnel check passengers arriving on the Intercity Night train from Milan to Messina (Picture: EPA)

Italy’s ageing population leaves it in a particularly vulnerable position, with a fatality rate of 6.8% – double the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimate of 3.4%.



Elderly people and those with pre-existing health conditions are more susceptible to the most serious symptoms of the disease, which originated Wuhan, China in December last year.

A document written up by a crisis management team in the city of Turin said that victims who are over 80 or in poor health could be denied beds if hospitals are overloaded with patients, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

Yesterday WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom declared Europe the epicentre of the pandemic, with more deaths and infections than there were at the height of China’s outbreak.

The streets of Naples have been left deserted as people are urged to stay indoors (Picture: IMPA/IPA)

Medical personnel wearing protective face masks help patients inside the Spedali Civili hospital in Brescia (Picture: Reuters)

Public gatherings have been banned and shops and restaurants have been closed (Picture: Reuters)

Earlier this week US President Donald Trump banned all travel from most of Europe for 30 days because of coronavirus.

Today he announced America would be extending the ban to Britain and Ireland after the UK’s infections soared to 1,140 and its death count doubled to 21.

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