Coronavirus live updates: Italy closes all schools and universities until mid-March

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: The Guardian

All schools and universities are to close in Italy until mid-March as the country battles to control the coronavirus.

The Italian news agency ANSA says the decision was taken at a meeting by the prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, with his cabinet.

There have been 79 deaths from Covid-19 in Italy, the third highest after China and Iran.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/04/coronavirus-live-updates-who-global-recession-fears-update-latest-news?page=with:block-5e5fa8608f087df56e4c1f8a#block-5e5fa8608f087df56e4c1f8a

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Follow-up Guardian live post:

The Italian government had already shut schools and universities in the worst-affected regions in northern Italy some 10 days ago and quarantined towns at the centre of the outbreak. However, it has struggled to contain the virus, with more than 2,500 people infected.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/04/coronavirus-live-updates-who-global-recession-fears-update-latest-news?page=with:block-5e5fa9e98f085f0b8d941dfa#block-5e5fa9e98f085f0b8d941dfa

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Update - they now say they are considering it, and will decide soon:

The Italian education minister, Lucia Azzolina, has said that the decision to close schools and universities across the country until mid-March - reported by the Italian news agency Ansa and several local outlets - has not yet been taken but will be decided “in the next few hours”.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/04/coronavirus-live-updates-who-global-recession-fears-update-latest-news?page=with:block-5e5fb0458f08c2df6d27303c#block-5e5fb0458f08c2df6d27303c

[iluvtennis]

3. My daughter is in Italy for her senior year of high school and called to say it's a done deal. nt

[AZ8theist]

2. What the hell, Italy???

Don't you KNOW you have to close them until APRIL, not MARCH????

We in America have been informed by the Stabull Jenyus that the virus will die in APRIL when it gets warm. IT'S A FACT!!!!

[DownriverDem]

5. Are you

sure?

[AZ8theist]

9. YES!!!

I am sure because my StayBull JeanYus (who is not owned in ANY WAY by Putin..HOAX!) Preznit TOLD ME that come April he will have SUCCESSFULLY Single handedly RUN INTO the virus house on fire, WITHOUT WEAPONS, and DESTROYED the Carona beer virus WITH HIS BARE HANDS!!!! Cuz he is SOOOOO MANLY!!!
THANK GAWD DOTURD IS GAWDS CHOSEN MESSIAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now excuse me while I go barf...

[DownriverDem]

4. We have a wedding trip

to southern Italy planned in June. I am wondering if we should go. We don't want to get stuck there.

[Juneboarder]

7. It wouldn't be a bad place to get stuck!

... all that delicious food and wine.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. And set to close cinemas and theatres, play football matches in empty stadia

Italy set to close cinemas and ban public events - draft decree
Italy’s government is set to close cinemas and theatres and ban public events across the whole country to try to contain the coronavirus outbreak, according to a draft decree drawn up on Wednesday.

The decree, seen by Reuters, orders “the suspension of events of any nature... that entail the concentration of people and do not allow for a safety distance of at least one metre (yard) to be respected.”

It also tells Italians to avoid hugging and shaking hands to prevent as much as possible a further spread of the potentially deadly illness which has been mainly concentrated in the country’s northern regions.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/04/coronavirus-live-updates-who-global-recession-fears-update-latest-news?page=with:block-5e5fc1258f08c2df6d273115#block-5e5fc1258f08c2df6d273115

Italian football authorities look set to order Serie A to play matches behind closed doors as the country struggles to control the coronavirus outbreak.

Following a series of postponements, including this week’s Coppa Italia semi-finals, Italian football is facing a backlog of fixtures as the virus spreads. This has prompted the head of the Italian FA to suggest playing matches without crowds is an increasing likelihood.

“We are heading towards that decision,” Vincenzo Spadafora told reporters when asked if the government was thinking of barring fans.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/04/coronavirus-live-updates-who-global-recession-fears-update-latest-news?page=with:block-5e5fc5458f087df56e4c20e7#block-5e5fc5458f087df56e4c20e7

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

8. I'm all for this...

It will be interesting to see if it helps. We are very huggy, kissy, social feely people so it will be weird for people not to meet, socialize, hug and kiss.

I'm proud Italy is taking this very seriously and not rationing or limiting COVID-19 tests (unlike the U.S.).

I still don't think many people in the U.S. are taking this seriously, possibly because not enough people have been tested. I predict a huge number of cases once more people will be tested and I wouldn't be surprised if the virus is well among us and has been for some time. I cringe at what this would do to my local economy (Las Vegas, NV) and tourism.