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ITALY HAS SHUT all non-essential factories after recording another record coronavirus toll that brought its fatalities to 4,825.
“The decision taken by the government is to close down all productive activity throughout the territory that is not strictly necessary, crucial, indispensable, to guarantee us essential goods and services,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a dramatic late-night TV address.
The 55-year-old Italian leader stressed that groceries and pharmacies would remain open and did not spell out what “indispensable” companies were.
“We will slow down the country’s productive engine, but we will not stop it,” Conte said.
Italy has notched a rapid succession of records that seemed unimaginable when a retired Italian builder became the first person in Europe to die of the new illness exactly a month ago.
The Mediterranean nation of 60 million on Thursday overtook China as the global epicentre of Covid-19.
It then registered another 1,420 deaths on Friday and yesterday that took its total higher than that reported by China and third-placed Iran combined.
Medical experts question Iran’s transparency and speculate that its toll might be higher.
Italian health officials looked stony-faced as they read out the latest bad news in a daily update on the country’s deadliest and most transformative crisis since World War II.
National Health Institute (ISS) chief Silvio Brusaferro urged the elderly to stay indoors at all times because the average age of Italy’s victims was 78.5.
“If you do not follow all the (government) measures, you make everything more difficult,” Italy’s top medical expert said.
“If you do, we can make this outbreak slow down.”
‘Situation getting worse’
But the Italian government appears intent on making more or less everyone stay indoors as much as possible at any cost.
Police squads in Rome were checking documents and fining those outside without a valid excuse.
Those who were out shopping were forced to wait in line at the entrance to make sure the store was filled with only a handful of people at a time.
Those who were out jogging were asked to limit their runs to laps around the block.
And those who were out for a walk were fined if they broke the rules and wandered into a park or stopped to take pictures of historic scenes of a city without any people.
Conte’s government is betting that this approach – and its accompanying concession that the economy will suffer extraordinary short-term pain – will ultimately prevail.
However, the number of Covid-19 infections rose yesterday by 6,557 to 53,578.
This is yet another record that beat one set only the day before.
Italy’s first weeks of the crisis were marked by periodic record death tolls that would come twice or three times a week.
The country has been setting them every day since Wednesday and the jumps are getting exponentially bigger.
The total number of fatalities in the northern Lombardy regions around Milan surpassed 3,000.
Lombardy has been under a lockdown since 8 March and the government had hoped to see results there first.
The region of around 10 million reported 3,251 new infections yesterday. It had reported 2,380 infections on Friday.
“The situation is getting worse,” Lombardy governor Attilio Fontana was quoted as saying late Saturday by Italy’s Sky TG24.
Italian media said Fontana was planing a new wave of closures and restrictions starting Sunday that included a ban on jogging and other outdoor activities.
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God love them this is tough
@Liam: nothing to what’s coming to England in 4-6 weeks
@James Brady: or the US. They’ll easily overtake Italy pretty soon since a vast majority of Republicans still believe it’s a hoax
@Tom: Unfortunately you’re right Tom … Hindsight is great but when you had the situation play out in other countries, what excuse do you have. Trump needs to be lynched and I’d throw in Morrison from Australia too. Relatively speaking our guys are doing great. Leo gave a 11 min speech which was concise, Scott Morrison was talking about going to the forty last week ..
@Tom: USA have overtaken Spain in the Coronavirus live Update website makes them third bdhind China and italy. USA and thd UK gavd been the two most ridiculous countries in their handling of this.
@Paul O’Sullivan: Maybe the USA did not handle things well in the beginning, but remember their population is close to 330 million so it was inevitable that their numbers would be higher based on population. It’s important to compare numbers in context.
@Pablo: Such bull…. we were slow about shutting down travel between Italy and other places besides having been warned well in advance and as for Leos PR stunt in his nice suit with the flags flying and that is as much as it was.
Him and some his ministers were still jetting around the globe when this thing was taking off.
But I will say they are at least doing all they can at the moment.
@James Brady: You do know that the UK had the first recorded case on the same day as Italy and Spain the UK is not 4-6 weeks behind them, it hit the UK on the 31st of January the same day as them!
@Paul O’Sullivan: The UK is so ridiculous that there has been 281 deaths compared to Italy who has 5476 when both countries had their first reported cases on the exact same day the 31st of January, over 5000 less deaths in the UK in exact time span makes the UK ridiculous, with over 5000 less deaths in the UK is being ridiculous I hope they carry on being ridiculous!
It’s frightening what’s happening in Italy. We need to lock every thing down here before the dirt hits the fan.
@David Corrigan: apparently the danger is if you lockdown too soon, people get complacent after a while. This complacency could coincide with the surge that they are predicting making everything worse. This even happened in Italy. I read an article last week by a scientist who wrote a book on pandemics. A lot of what his models in the book predict have happened. He stated that there would be a large cohort of population who would refuse to engage with measures such as social distancing and isolation. Have a look on some American discussion boards: large chunks of people dont believe it. One guy said it’s a media hoax and he wont believe it till he sees bodies. This is the level of stupid governments have to deal with. Of course in America it’s stupid in Chief that’s running the show.
@David Corrigan: if we close all the SME’s they won’t reopen.
@Connoroconner: Looking at the images from Italy, Spain and France, I don’t think complacency will be an issue. As for the cohort of population who would refuse to engage with measures such as social distancing and isolation, there is now legislation in place to lock them up. We need a lockdown on non- essential services and we need it now. Far too many of us have to go to work tomorrow, running the great risk of catching this virus and unknowingly passing it on to our loved ones and dependants
@Wheresmyjumper: if we get to Italy’s situation who cares?
@Wheresmyjumper: Probably true. I am one of them but I can survive this financially thank God. The aftermath of this will be horrific for SME’s.
@Connoroconner: The timing of the lockdown call seems to be very critical based on what you pointed out.
@Connoroconner: the level of stupid governments have to deal with or the level of stupid that governments have to deal with
Do you mean people or governments? Genuinely confused
@Claudio Cavaliere: I think he meant ‘the level of stupid(ity) (that) governments have to deal with’. I’m guessing.
@Claudio Cavaliere: yes sorry for the typo. I mean the levels of stupidity governments have to deal with.
@Connoroconner: if the army/Gardaí are patrolling while we are in lockdown complacency won’t be an issue. If everyone complied with guidance we wouldn’t need lockdown but after seeing the photos from Glendalough yesterday I think we will. Those mobile food vans should lose their trading licenses.
@David Corrigan: The hospitals aren’t ready for lockdown yet. They need to clear bed space. When they are somewhat prepared we will go into lockdown I reckon.
@EdmundOrlando: Won’t be long until it happens. Our medical people are doing mighty work in fairness. They are working miracles with limited resources. Hopefully the next few governments recognize that and help our world class medical force build a world class health system.
@Connoroconner: no bother, I thought as much but was checking
This is very scary RIP to all and every victim of this pandemic if that’s not giving us a big message please social distancing will help us be safe and we will get through this monster all of us together stay safe and mind yourselves
Construction federation in Ireland are a disgrace and need to lockdown all building sites.they remain open putting workers lives at risk.its hard enough conditions on building sites without this virus spreading to workers.
@nicknack: they should close down all non essential workplaces. My wife and child are staying in, only going out for walks. Kind of pointless though when i have to go to work and be exposed to things
@Brian Dunne: agree 100% , we need to shut all non essential businesses.
@nicknack: absolutely 100% agree, my husband works in the industry and I am actually terrified as to what he could bring home
@ianglen: stopped counting the deaths? Where did you get that from?
They have not stopped counting fatalities!!! They are being transparent. Either read the article or do not comment
@Sean Carroll: well said my parents live just outside Milano..and there’s no choice..probably this decision would be taken a week ago at least…
I think our government should show Italy and how bad it is in images to make people stay at home. Some people here are not listening , anyone see anything that is against social distancing? I’ve seen people meeting up in groups not distancing.
I am starting to think that the Chinese figures were lies, propaganda and a cover up. There is no way that Italy is experiencing something different.
@Big Red: Italy’s numbers are showing different because China when lockdown was imposed the Chinese adheard to it, the Italians though they were getting a few extra weeks holidays so they went travelling to holiday homes, held large social community gatherings and ignored public health advice, and there is still plenty of people in Ireland who have the Italian mindset, time to wake up and take this seriously people!
@Big Red: Most people are beginning to think that way…..the virus apparently emerged at start of November or so in China, yet the Government there did not inform WHO until new years eve. Also there could be thousands of deaths over there recorded incorrectly because at the start they would not known what it was anyway and recorded pneumonia. When they did discover what it was, but before they admitted it, doctors there were told record the deaths as being due to the persons underlying conditions and not the virus. We will never know the true numbers of Chinese victims of this pandemic.
@JohnnyMc: He made it up.
Make them volunteer in the hospital ,old folks homes as part of their schooling make sure that they have full PPE gear could be a good thing for them to do ,might make them think that these people exist, a fair amount this generation don’t give a damn about anyone but themselves self entitled need education to get them back on track
This is coming, people are still acting stupidly, need to remember it’s not just medics, it’s the support staff eg porters, housekeeping, front desk staff that are coming home to their families after working in close proximity to patients as well..
.
Ti amo Bella Italia. Forza. To all my friends and work colleagues in Italy. Grandi persone..
Probably
But it still doesn’t excuse the lack of care these people are showing , if you don’t care for the most vulnerable in your society what does that say about you , there is people risking their lives and their loved ones working in these icu’s and in these wards looks like they were never paid enough and still aren’t a bit of reality for all of us to think about
@ianglen: the article is just there yet you still felt the need to tell straight out lie, what is wrong with people like you. Do facts scare you or are you just a compulsive liar in all areas of your life.
@ianglen: What’s your source for that?
Ireland is going the same road as Italy we have not locked down enough and so many ignoring what the government is asking is to do , have a drive around Dublin and you be shocked at what the idiots are doing.
@Block a Tron: absolutely agree. There was a very large group of teenagers playing basketball outside my house yesterday, about 12 of them high fiving, hugging and chest bumping. This is going on every day. Parents need to react strongly to this. That’s quite a few household’s at risk now.
@Droyal: wow! Where I am, we haven’t seen the teens behaving that way. But I guess proximity to some major hospitals is something to do with that. All the local shops here had COVID-19 posters way before city centre. The shop assistants were frequently cleaning surfaces etc… But in town, assistants, even in a pharmacy I went into were not engaging in any safe practices. I was so shocked! I really hope that people cop on…there are so many here waiting at home to be tested.
@Block a Tron: I live close enough to the border here in donegal and the amount of people that were coming I to donegal from northern Ireland yesterday was madness. Schools closed up there now too so will be coming in in there 100′s
@Block a Tron: shops in Dunalk are only letting small number in at a time. Floors are marked out to ensure social distancing , perspect screens have been put up at counters, small shops and cafes have blocked their doors and are only selling take away through windows. Lots are adhering to it, let’s keep praising those that are making the effort.
@LittleBee: Supermarkets are leading the way.
@Block a Tron: although some shops announced they were closing they are still bringing their staff in behind closed doors. Hundreds still walking around Dublin
All public transport needs to be shut down. Taxis, busses and train’s
I think we have to lock down immediately we have too many stupid people in this country who haven’t a clue how to distance themselves from others we still have pubs that open Putin has the right idea two choices stay in or jail for five years, Jordan also stay in or jail for a year. Wd have to make this sacrifice the only option is lockdown people are just not listening so savd the country stay in actually save the world stay in
There is an error in this article. 1420 did not die on Friday from Corona Virus.
@Gareth Murran: I’m sure it says Friday and yesterday. poorly worded I will agree
Surprised they didn’t shut down factories already. I mean office workers can work from home but not so factory workers. Doesn’t sound like a full lockdown.
What are they doing wrong?
@Chris: old population and if they actually dug intp the numbers they may see that these people may have died soon anyway but now are dying at the same time, it sounds like i’m trying to be harsh but there’s a lot of truth in that Covid 19 is taking months or weeks off these old people not years
@Wheresmyjumper: Its still taking them early
@alphasully: i know but what quality of life did they have? Medical advances are enabling people to live beyond their natural life
@Wheresmyjumper: thanks a lot!
How many had underlying illnesses?
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: They said 99%
@ianglen: Go away you silly troll.
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