ROME, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy shut all stores except for pharmacies and food shops in a desperate bid to halt the spread of a coronavirus that has killed 827 in the the country in just over two weeks.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the latest wave of restrictions in a dramatic appeal to the nation that came with the country of 60 million battling its biggest crisis in generations.
“Thank you to all Italians who make sacrifices. We are proving to be a great nation,” Conte said in his nine-minute evening prime time address to the nation.
Italians have watched ever tighter restrictions slowly eat away at the very fabric of everyday life.
An existing clampdown on public gathering and basic travel had already emptied streets and shuttered everything from churches to restaurants.
Cathedrals posted hand-written notes cancelling mass and cafes apologised to their regulars for having to turn them away.
Conte said the closure of nearly everything that had remained open would run for at least two weeks.
“All shops will be closed except for basic necessities, such as pharmacies and food stores,” said Conte.
“Bars, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and canteen services will close. Home delivery is allowed.”
“No need to rush to buy groceries,” he stressed.
Conte’s announcement came hours after his government promised to spend up to 25 billion euros to fight a disease that has put hospitals and the economy under intense strain.
The size of Rome’s rescue was the same as one the European Union announced for the entire 27-nation bloc Monday.
Italy’s Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said half the money would be used immediately and the other half stowed away and tapped should the health crisis spiral out of control.
Part of the government’s cash injection is meant to help small businesses that are suffering the brunt of an implosion in the number of tourists who visit Italy’s art-filled churches and achingly beautiful hills.
The government also put more meat on the bones of an emerging plan to let families temporarily suspend some mortgage and social tax payments.
Gualtieri said “partial state guarantees” were being discussed to help Italy’s creaking banks survive a resulting cash crunch.
Italy has witnessed nearly 60 percent of the deaths recorded outside China since the epidemic first started spreading from the Asian giant’s central Wuhan province in January.
