Italy coronavirus deaths jump by almost 800, govt shuts most workplaces
22 March, 2020
Italy recorded a jump in deaths from coronavirus of almost 800 on Saturday, taking the toll in the world’s hardest-hit country to almost 5,000.
In its latest desperate effort to halt the epidemic Rome ordered that all businesses must close until April 3, apart from those necessary to maintaining the country’s supply chain.
“It is the most challenging crisis in our post-war period,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a video posted on Facebook, adding “only production activities deemed essential for national production will be allowed”.
Conte didn't specify which factories and businesses will be looked at crucial to keep the country going. The federal government is likely to publish a crisis decree on Sunday to help make the new crackdown immediately effective.
Supermarkets, pharmacies, postal and banking services will stay open and essential public services including transport will be ensured.
“We are slowing the country’s production engine but we aren't stopping it,” Conte said.
Italy on Thursday overtook China as the country worst hit by the highly contagious virus.
On Saturday fatalities jumped by 793 to 4,825 in the most significant one-day rise because the contagion emerged per month ago.
Reported infections rose to 53,578 from 47,021, the Civil Protection Agency said. There have been 2,857 people in intensive care, up from 2,655.
Lombardy, the northern Italian region around Milan which may be the worst-affected by coronavirus, remains in a crucial situation, with 3,095 deaths and 25,515 cases.
“What most of us understand is that no member state can face this threat alone. The virus has no borders and the European Union is stronger whenever we show full solidarity,” EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen told Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper.
Late on Friday the EU Commission moved to formalise a deal reached by EU finance ministers on March 5 to suspend EU budget rules that limit borrowing, giving Italy and other governments a free of charge hand to fight the disease.
Italy’s failure to reduce its huge debt of 134% of gross domestic product would as a rule have drawn a rebuke from the EU executive, but von der Leyen said there have been now other priorities.
“The Italian government can put as much money into the economy as needed. Normal budget rules, debt rules for instance, will not be applied at this stage,” she said.
Brussels is expected in a few days to unveil an idea for using the euro zone’s bailout fund, referred to as the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), that could unlock unlimited sovereign bond purchases by the European Central Bank.
“This work is ongoing,” Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said within an interview with Reuters.
The lockdown measures imposed in Italy and emulated by other countries in Europe are likely to trigger a recession and heavy job losses.
Dombrovskis said the Commission is accelerating focus on an EU-wide scheme to greatly help the unemployed, scheduled for presentation in the fourth quarter.
Source: the-japan-news.com
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