Ghost towns: Coronavirus closes parts of Italy

A man stands outside the San Siro stadium after the Inter Milan v Sampdoria Serie A match was cancelled due to an outbreak of the coronavirus in Lombardy and Veneto, in Milan, Italy, February 23, 2020

Monday 24 February 2020 07:13, UK

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Italy is battling to contain Europe's first major outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus with 152 cases confirmed - the largest number outside Asia, where the disease originated.

Three people have died so far, the latest on Sunday.

All three were elderly people, two of whom had serious underlying conditions but Italy's government is not taking any chances.

Women wearing a respiratory mask walks across Piazza del Duomo in central Milan on February 23, 2020. - Tens of thousands of Italians prepared for a weeks-long quarantine in the country's north on February 23 as nerves began to fray among the locals faced with new lockdown measures

Among the worst-affected is the northern Lombardy region, which includes Italy's financial capital of Milan. Lombardy has 110 cases, according to its governor.

Tourists wearing sanitary masks walk in downtown Milan, Italy

Patient Zero in Lombardy - the source of the infections - has yet to be identified but, meanwhile, the region has suspended all public events until 1 March.

A man stands outside the San Siro stadium after the Inter Milan v Sampdoria Serie A match was cancelled due to an outbreak of the coronavirus in Lombardy and Veneto, in Milan, Italy, February 23, 2020

Major football games have been called off and cinemas and theatres were also closed, including Milan's opera house La Scala.

A train stopped by authorities stands on the tracks at the train station on the Italian side of the Brenner Pass, Italy

On Sunday evening, Austria halted all trains from Italy due to suspicions that a train on the southern border contained two infected passengers.

The train that concerned authorities was carrying about 300 passengers from Venice to the German city of Munich along the frequently congested Brenner Pass.

Trains resumed later on Sunday night but Austria has said it will discuss border controls further on Monday.

A police officer patrols on a platform at the train station on the Italian side of the Brenner Pass, Italy
Residents wait to be given access to shop in a supermarket in small groups of forty people on February 23, 2020 in the small Italian town of Casalpusterlengo

Eleven towns - 50,000 inhabitants - have been put on lockdown by the Italian government. This will remain for 14 days, according to media reports.

Some 500 police officers are in the Lombardy region controlling 43 access points. Those who break the lockdown could be jailed for up to three months.

A general view shows a deserted street in Codogno, southeast of Milan, on February 22, 2020
People queue at a supermarket outside the town of Casalpusterlengo, which has been closed by the Italian government due to a coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy, February 23, 2020

News of the restrictions sent many people rushing to supermarkets to stock up on food.

Supermarkets were among just a few types of businesses allowed to open.

Tourists wear protective face masks in a gondola, because of an outbreak of coronavirus, in Venice, Italy February 23, 2020
Masked carnival reveller wears protective face mask at Venice Carnival, which the last two days of, as well as Sunday night's festivities, have been cancelled because of an outbreak of coronavirus, in Venice, Italy February 23, 2020

The tourist hotspot of Venice should be busy with its Carnival events but, having reported three cases, the remaining days were cancelled. It had been due to run until Tuesday.

Residents shop in a supermarket in small groups of forty people on February 23, 2020 in the small Italian town of Casalpusterlengo

The head of Italian civil protection, Angelo Borrelli, has announced that, if needed, the army has offered 3,412 beds and the air force a further 1,750. Hotel rooms could also be used if needed.