#VIDEO | Coronavirus: Italy advances the closure of the Carnival of Venice by registering the “biggest outbreak” of the disease in Europe

The famous Venice Carnival, which attracts thousands of visitors to Italy every year, comes to an end this Sunday, two days ahead of schedule, after that country recorded the “worst outbreak” of the new coronavirus in European territory.

“From this afternoon, we plan to stop the carnival and all the sporting activities until March 1,” Veneto region president Luca Zaia told Sunday television on Sky IG24.

The announcement of the early closing of the traditional party came less than 24 hours after the government of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte reported on the imposition of “extraordinary measures” to contain the progression of the disease.

The president announced the emergency plan on Saturday night, after the number of cases amounted to 79. By this Sunday, that figure had already exceeded 150 infections.

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The measures, which can be extended for several weeks, were imposed after confirmation of the death of two Italian citizens due to the virus.

A dozen locations in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto are effectively isolated under the quarantine plan.

The authorities have asked about 50,000 people from the villages in two northern regions not to leave their homes.

Conte declared the prohibition of entry or exit of these outbreak areas, with the exception of who receives a special permit.

All schools and sports and recreational activities have been suspended in those regions.

In addition, several Serie A football matches that were scheduled for Sunday were also postponed.

The police and, if necessary, the armed forces are authorized to enforce the new measures.

Italian authorities fear that the virus has spread beyond isolated foci in Lombardy and Veneto, making it difficult to contain.

“The transmissibility of this virus is very strong and quite virulent,” said Lombardy health chief Giulio Gallera.

The new coronavirus originated in the province of Hubei, in China, last year, but has already spread to 26 countries, where more than 1,400 cases and 11 deaths have been confirmed until Sunday.

On Saturday, health authorities in China reported a decrease in the rate of deaths and new cases of coronavirus. Until then, about 76,392 cases and 2,348 deaths in that country had been confirmed.

But outside of China, cases that are not clearly linked to that country or other confirmed cases continue to rise, causing an alert call from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The director of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, says that the greatest current concern lies with countries that have weaker health systems, especially in Africa.

South Korea reported the highest number of confirmed cases, after China, and the outbreak aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, anchored in the port of Yokohama, Japan, has registered more than 600 cases.

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Other related events:

32 British and European passengers who were evacuated by plane from the cruise ship in Japan are in quarantine in the northwest of England.

In South Korea, a fourth person died, while the number of confirmed cases skyrocketed to more than 550, an increase of more than 100 over the previous day.

Most cases are linked to a hospital and a religious group near the city of Daegu.
Israel did not allow the landing of some 200 non-Israeli passengers from a plane from South Korea and sent them back to Seoul; the 12 Israelis on board were quarantined.

Iran reported its fifth death due to the disease and ordered the closure of schools, universities and cultural centers in 14 provinces.

In January, WHO declared a global emergency because of the outbreak of the new virus, which causes the disease that has been given the name of Covid-19.

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Fever, fatigue and a dry cough are the most common symptoms that patients manifest.

The proportion of deaths caused by the disease seems to be low, with the majority of those affected only developing minor symptoms and achieving full recovery.

From BBC.Mundo