Italy wakes to lockdown as country attempts to beat coronavirus

A nationwide lockdown began in Italy on Tuesday in an unprecedented and unexpected new attempt to beat coronavirus in Europe's worst-affected country. Italy's 60 million people will only be able to travel for work, medical reasons or emergencies until April 3. All schools and universities, which were closed nationwide last week until March 15, will now not reopen before next month.

There have been some 9,172 confirmed cases and 463 deaths, putting the national health system under massive strain. Struggling to contain the outbreak, Italy imposed strict controls on travel from the northern region of Lombardy and parts of neighbouring Veneto, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna on Sunday.

The government has already ordered cinemas, theatres and museums to close and told shops and restaurants to ensure that patrons remained at least a metre (yard) apart.