Coronavirus death toll in Italy soars as 16 million people are now in lockdown
Italy has now registered more cases of coronavirus than any country outside China, while its death toll has risen to 366
After mass testing uncovered more than 7,300 infections, Italy has followed China's lead and has now locked down around 16 million people - more than a quarter of its population - for nearly a month.
Weddings, museums, cinemas, shopping centres and restaurants have all been hit by new restrictions.
Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte signed a quarantine decree early on Sunday for the north of the country.
Areas under lockdown include Milan, Italy's financial hub and the main city in Lombardy, and Venice, the main city in the neighbouring Veneto region.
The extraordinary measures will be in place until April 3.
The fate of foreign visitors stuck in Italy's new quarantine zones is still unclear.
The Pope, who has been ill, held his Sunday blessing by video instead of in person.
The Vatican museums are now closed, including the Sistine Chapel.
Alitalia, the Italian airline which was already financially ailing before the virus, suspended all national and international flights from Milan's Malpensa airport, starting on Monday.
The World Health Organisation has said China's move to quarantine about 60 million people in central Hubei province in late January has helped the rest of the world prepare for the virus to arrive.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted his support Sunday for Italians and their "bold, courageous steps aimed at slowing the speed of the coronavirus".
Published: by Radio NewsHub