(CNN)Italians who attempt to flee the lockdown in the country's north, set up to try and stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, may face three months' imprisonment, Italy's interior minister has said.
Anyone leaving the "containment regions" risks three months in prison, or a fine of up to 206 euros ($234), Luciana Lamorgese said.
The threat comes as ripple effects from northern Italy's lockdown start to be felt. Riots broke out at several prisons across Italy after visits were suspended to curb the spread of the virus, it was announced on Monday.
Six inmates died at one prison in Modena, where prisoners occupied the infirmary and seized control of various drugs including methadone. Two of the dead died of an overdose, the head of Italy's prison system said.
Italy saw a dramatic spike of 1,247 confirmed novel coronavirus cases on Saturday, the Civil Protection Department said in a statement. The number of cases in the country has now reached 7,375, with 366 deaths -- the highest number of fatalities outside mainland China, and the biggest outbreak in Europe.
The move puts the entire Lombardy region, as well as 14 other provinces, under travel restrictions; it is one of the toughest responses implemented outside of mainland China to get the COVID-19 epidemic under control.
The coordinator for intensive care in the crisis unit for the Lombardy region told CNN that Lombardy's health care system was "one step from collapse" despite efforts to free up hospital beds.
"We are now being forced to set up intensive care treatment in corridors," Antonio Pesenti said. "We've emptied entire hospital sections to make space for seriously sick people."
He described seeing "a tsunami of patients," adding that there could be 18,000 patients in hospital by the end of the month if the virus continues to spread.
"I've never seen anything like this," he said. "Italians should be worried.
"If people would just stay home, we could end this in two weeks.
"I hope we control this in the coming weeks. If we don't get to that point, we will have a disaster."
Checks on compliance with the movement ban will be carried out on main highways and along smaller roads by the Carabinieri (military police) and municipal police forces, while railway police, health authority workers and civil protection staff using thermoscan appliances will enforce the travel ban on the state's railways.
Michele De Marsico told CNN at a Milan train station Sunday that he was trying to work out how to return to southern Italy. "I was worried, so I came here to the train station to check out the situation," said the 55-year-old.
Travelers, including those departing or arriving in the containment regions by airplane, will be checked to see if they have a self-declared travel exemption.
Checks will also be introduced for cruise ship passengers arriving in Venice, who will not be able to disembark to visit the city, but will only be able to return to their place of residence or country of origin.
Visitor ban sparks fatal prison riots
Six inmates died in a Modena prison after riots broke out following the suspension of prison visits to curb the spread of the virus, the director of the Italian penitentiary system Francesco Basentini, said in a TV interview Monday.
Prison officers stand guard as an ambulance enters SantAnna prison in Modena, inside one of Italy's quarantine red zones, following a disturbance there.
Prisoners incarcerated at several institutions across Italy -- in Frosinone, Naples, Pavia, Alessandria, Modena and Foggia -- rioted over the weekend, according to a statement from the Italian Justice Ministry.
"The protests concerned the coronavirus emergency, as well as the measures issued by the government to reduce the risk of infection and protect those who live and work within the prison," the statement said, adding that all episodes of unrest were brought under control by Sunday evening.
In Modena, inmates occupied the entire prison, including the infirmary, where they got hold of various drugs, including methadone, Basentini said. Two of the dead died of an overdose, and another from the inhalation of toxic smoke. Basentini said the cause of the three remaining deaths was under investigation.
Quarantine zone across country's north
There have been more than 108,000 confirmed cases and 3,821 deaths related to the novel coronavirus worldwide. Despite signs of improvement in Asia -- with China and South Korea recording a slowdown in the number of new cases -- the situation in Europe and North America appears to be worsening.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed a decree early Sunday, putting almost 16 million people across northern Italy on lockdown.
People wear masks while shopping at a supermarket in Milan, after Italy announced a sweeping quarantine zone covering its northern regions.
Announcing the new measures, Conte said: "There will be an obligation to avoid any movement of people who are either entering or leaving" the affected areas. "Even within the areas moving around will occur only for essential work or health reasons," he said.
Schools, universities, theaters, cinemas, bars, and nightclubs have been closed. Religious ceremonies, including funerals and weddings, and sporting events are being suspended or postponed. Restaurants and bars can be open from 6am to 6pm, and malls and markets can open on weekdays if they can assure a meter (three feet) of distance between each client.
While the lockdown only applies to northern Italy's "red zone", other measures will be applied to the entire country. These include the closure of pubs and museums, the suspension of religious ceremonies and the postponement of sporting events. Pope Francis delivered a livestreamed prayer from the Vatican on Sunday.
Italy's Finance and Economy Ministry said in a statement on Monday that core sectors of the economy and the public administration would remain open for business even in the restricted areas, but warned that the precautionary measures would impact sectors tied to transportation, lodging, food, drink and entertainment.
Cars line up to cross the Italy-Switzerland border at the Ponte Chiasso customs post north of Milan, on Monday.
"This is of the utmost importance not only from a healthcare point of view but also economically. A temporary downturn in some sectors or areas of the country is preferable to a longer crisis that could spread to the whole economy via demand and supply effects," the statement read.
Hotel worker Alice Baldisserri, 38, told CNN that "Milan's hotels are empty, so the jobs are at risk." Baldisserri said Italy's tourism industry had been "hit the hardest" by the outbreak.
The restrictions could take a toll on Italy's already fragile economy. Italian tourism representatives warned last month that 200 million euros ($260 million) in bookings had been canceled since the outbreak was first announced.
The Italian government is preparing measures to support workers and firms across the country, particularly in sectors and areas most affected by the outbreak to try to prevent "lasting damage to the supply side of the Italian economy and permanent employment losses."
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on "all countries to continue efforts that have been effective in limiting the number of cases and slowing the spread of the virus."
In a statement, the WHO said: "Allowing uncontrolled spread should not be a choice of any government, as it will harm not only the citizens of that country but affect other countries as well."
