The Italian Government has announced further lockdown measures to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Speaking in a video message posted on his official Facebook page, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced all factories not producing essential goods would be shut down.
Supermarket, pharmacies, public transportations, banks and post offices will remain open, and all jobs and activities related to food distribution and essential public services will continue.
The new measures are more draconian than the initial lockdown, which began two weeks ago.
Italy has so far confirmed 53,578 cases of the virus, with 4,825 dead.
The prime minister said: “We are slowing down the productive engine of the country, but we won’t stop it.
“It is not an easy decision, but it is a decision that prepares us to tackle the most severe moment of the contagion.
“This decision is necessary today in order to contain the spreading of the epidemic as much as possible.
“The health emergency, as we foresaw, is turning into a full economic emergency, but I want to say to all of you that the state is here, the state is present.
“The government will take extraordinary measures that will allow us to stand up again and restart as soon as possible.”
Source: ITV
