The lockdown imposed by the Italian government in a bid to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus affecting over 60 million people has already manifested some damaging ripple effects in the country. The lockdown has sparked protests especially by Inmates in up to 22 prisons.
According to the Justice Ministry in the country, inmates overran a number of prisons on Monday, March, 10, escaping their facilities as well as kidnapping officers, following the banning of visits to the prisons in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. Several of the inmates lost their lives in the uproar.
Italy's prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, announced the extension of emergency measures across the entire country on Monday, March, 9, during which he asked people to stay indoors, banning all public gatherings including weddings and funerals. 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.
Based on the initial lockdown regulations, schools, theatres, cinemas, bars and nightclubs were shut down in Italy's north. Religious ceremonies, including sporting events, weddings and funerals were suspended or postponed. Restaurants and bars were allowed to be open from 6 am to 6 pm. Shopping malls and markets could open on weekdays as long as they could assure a meter (three feet) of the distance between each client.
The restrictions could take a toll on Italy's already fragile economy. Some interviewed residents lamented their business was greatly being affected Meanwhile, the Italian government is putting some measures in place to support affected workers and firms across the country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), all nations must sustain efforts towards limiting the number of cases and slowing the spread of the virus.
