Coronavirus italy closes all schools and universities as death toll rises
Yes, that's correct. On February 22, 2020, the Italian government announced that it would be closing all schools and universities in the country until March 15, 2020, in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
At the time, Italy had reported over 3,000 cases of COVID-19 and 107 deaths, with the majority of cases and deaths concentrated in the northern regions of Lombardy, Veneto, and Piedmont. The decision to close schools and universities was made in an effort to reduce the risk of transmission and slow the spread of the virus.
The closure affected over 12 million students and 1.5 million university students, and was seen as a significant measure to combat the outbreak. The government also implemented other measures to contain the spread of the virus, including restricting travel, closing public gatherings, and increasing testing and contact tracing.
Unfortunately, the death toll in Italy continued to rise, and by the end of March 2020, the country had reported over 6,000 deaths and over 60,000 cases of COVID-19. The pandemic had a significant impact on the country's economy, healthcare system, and daily life, and the government continued to implement measures to contain the spread of the virus.
It's worth noting that the closure of schools and universities was a significant measure, but it was not the only one taken by the Italian government to combat the pandemic. Other measures included:
- Restricting travel: The government restricted travel to and from affected areas, and implemented a ban on travel to and from China, South Korea, and Iran.
- Closing public gatherings: The government closed public gatherings, including sports events, concerts, and festivals.
- Increasing testing and contact tracing: The government increased testing and contact tracing to identify and isolate cases of COVID-19.
- Implementing social distancing measures: The government implemented social distancing measures, including reducing the number of people allowed in public places and encouraging people to work from home.
These measures, along with the closure of schools and universities, were seen as important steps to contain the spread of the virus and protect the health and well-being of the Italian population.