Coronavirus in Italy: Government closes schools and universities - and goes one step further

Coronavirus: The number of infected people in Italy is increasing rapidly. So far, the borders should not be closed.

• The novel corona virus * is spreading worldwide.
• Italy has become the focal point in Europe.
• The country fears the rapid spread of the Sars-CoV-2 virus and takes drastic measures - other European countries are also reporting cases.

Update of March 5, 2020, 8.17 a.m .: Due to the widespread spread of the new Sars-CoV-2 in Italy, the government has taken drastic measures. Schools and universities are to remain closed until March 15. But not only that. Theaters and cinemas also keep the gates closed for the time being. This emerges from a decree that Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed late Wednesday evening. In Italy around 3100 people have been infected with the virus so far, 107 have died as a result.

Italy's prime minister called on citizens to distance themselves. You should keep at least one meter away, avoid hugs and kisses. “We are a strong country. A country that doesn't give up, ”he said in a video message. "We are all in the same boat."

Such measures are currently not being taken in Germany. In parts of Greece , however, the Italian model is followed. The Ministry of Health announced immediate measures for two regions on the Peloponnese peninsula and the island of Zakynthos on Wednesday evening. Schools, theaters, cinemas and archaeological sites are said to be closed there for 48 hours. The reason is a Greek tour group - the 56 tourists had visited Israel and Egypt, after their return a 66-year-old participant of Covid-19 fell ill.

Update of March 4, 6:34 p.m .: Italy closes its schools from Thursday to March 15 due to the spread of the corona virus . Now it has become known that southern Europeans are also closing universities across the country.

Corona virus in Italy: death toll rises dramatically - 28 deaths in a day

Update 6:24 pm: The number of deaths after the coronavirus outbreak in Italy has risen to more than 100. 28 people have died since yesterday. In total, 3089 people had been infected by Wednesday, 107 had died, civil protection in Rome announced. The day before there were still around 2500 infected and 79 dead. There are now cases in almost all regions, but most still in Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. 295 people are in intensive care. The government is taking drastic measures to get the crisis under control. At the end of February, the first outbreaks were discovered in Lombardy and Veneto.

Coronavirus in Italy: Government is considering radical measures - consequences for the whole country

Update 2:44 pm: According to the Italian school minister, the decision to close schools all over Italy has not yet been made. "So far there have been no closures," said Lucia Azzolina on Wednesday, according to news agencies Ansa and Adnkronos. A decision should only be made in the coming hours. The agencies had previously reported that schools across Italy should remain closed until March 15 due to the corona virus.

Italy is the country most severely affected by Covid-19 lung disease in Europe. The authorities counted 79 dead by Tuesday. In total, more than 2500 people have been infected with the Sars-CoV-2 virus. However, many have already recovered. Up until now, schools in the north of the country, which were badly affected, were closed.

Update 2:27 p.m .: In Italy due to the massive spread of the new corona virus , drastic measures are taken and a state of emergency is declared for schools across the country. They are said to be closed for around ten days until Thursday, March 15. The news agencies Ansa and Adnkronos reported on Wednesday, citing government circles.

Corona virus: first confirmed case in Poland

Update from March 4th, 9.30am: For the first time in Poland, a man was tested positive for the Sars-CoV-2 virus. According to the dpa , the patient called his family doctor over the phone after noticing symptoms. He had previously been in Germany . The man's contacts are in quarantine. He himself was taken to the hospital by ambulance , but he was fine. There are currently 68 people under observation in hospitals across Poland.

Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn made a government statement on Wednesday about the development of corona virus in Germany. He made a grim forecast.

Coronavirus: Eleven communities blocked for the second week

Update of March 3, 6.30 p.m .: In Italy, the number of coronavirus deaths and infected people has risen again sharply. The authorities counted 79 dead by Tuesday. This was announced by the civil defense. A total of 2502 people in the Mediterranean country have been infected with the Sars-CoV-2 virus. That was almost 500 more than on Monday. However, dozens have recovered.

Italy is the country most severely affected by Covid-19 lung disease in Europe . Eleven municipalities in the north, Lombardy and Veneto are already closed for the second week. The number of cases remains particularly high in Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. The authorities always emphasize that most of the dead were older people, often with previous illnesses.

Coronavirus: EU plans to provide up to 90 million euros for research

Update of March 3rd, 5:32 pm: The European Commission wants to mobilize up to 90 million euros to research means for diagnosing and treating the coronavirus . Half of it is to come from the Horizon 2020 research program , as the Brussels authority announced on Tuesday. The pharmaceutical industry is to contribute the remaining 45 million.

This would pool resources from public and private funds and accelerate the development of medicines, it said. The initiative is part of the coordinated response to the health threat posed by the new Covid-19 disease, for which the EU has promised a total of 230 million euros.

Coronavirus: Macron has masks confiscated by the state

Update of March 3, 4:43 pm: The massive spread of the coronavirus leads to hamster purchases in the health sector. Infectious agents are sold out in most European drugstores. Mouthguards are also hardly available anymore. Providers have massively increased their prices for the masks - which is also putting pressure on European health systems. French President Emmanuel Macron now wants to confiscate such masks from the state. On Twitter, he called for all stocks and new masks to be made available to the healthcare system.

Nous réquisitionnons tous les stocks et la production de masques de protection. Nous les distribuerons aux professionnels de santé et aux Français atteints par le Coronavirus.

ARD expert on coronavirus in Italy: that's why it "exploded out of nowhere"

Update of March 3, 4:31 pm: Last week, many believers were concerned about the health of Pope Francis . He too had signs of the flu, which might as well have been symptoms of infection with the novel coronavirus . But on Tuesday it turned out: The Pope suffers from a simple cold, a corresponding test was negative.

Update 12:32: The corona virus , Sars-CoV-19, has literally "exploded out of nowhere" in Italy, says virologist Martin Stürmer in the " Morning Magazine " (MoMa) of the ARD . "The fact is that we have learned that the virus can spread even if I have no symptoms ," says striker. Italy has numerous economic contacts with China. Due to the strong "tourist traffic" between the countries, it finally came to Italy, the expert speculates.

When the virus became known, one could have radically closed all borders . "That might have helped," said striker. This measure is probably no longer effective. Now all that remains is to track the infection chains and quarantine those affected. "Optimally, you test every suspected case," says striker. But he knew that was not possible.

A third case of the new corona virus has now been confirmed in Mallorca. The infected patient was a woman who had recently been in Turin , northern Italy , the health authorities on the Spanish holiday island said on Tuesday.

The fear of the corona virus now also determines the program "Hard but fair". The WDR broadcasts a special broadcast of the format in double length. A loaded virologist at “Hart aber Fair” is angry with corona virus handling in Germany. General practitioners also sound the alarm: "We are currently being bombed".

Coronavirus: Crisis response mechanism activated - various institutions

Update from March 3, 8:08 am: A cruise ship with around 1200 people is stuck in Norway. Two German passengers are suspected of being infected with the novel corona virus.

Update of March 2, 10:41 pm: The Croatian EU Council Presidency has now fully activated the crisis response mechanism . It is intended to enable quick and coordinated political decisions in difficult and complex crises, for example in the event of terrorist attacks , explains the German Press Agency.

There are now crisis meetings of the European Council, the Foreign Service, the EU Commission and representatives of the countries concerned. In the first place, therefore, the cooperation between the member states of the European Union is strengthened in order to be able to work together to solve the problem .

Coronavirus: EU politicians seal themselves off - RTL reporter shows scary symptoms

Update from March 2, 7.46 p.m .: The European Parliament seals itself off from the corona virus . Until further notice, visitors are no longer allowed and there will be no business appointments with guests in the next three weeks . This was stated by Parliament President David Sassoli in today's press conference.

The precautionary measures must be sensitive, he explains. After all, Parliament receives around 700,000 guests a year . Political work will not be stopped, however.

LIVE: Press conference on the EU response to the Coronavirus. # COVID19 https://t.co/uD8LoFau6l

Coronavirus in Italy: RTL reporter tested for virus after return - result worrying

Update from March 2, 4:23 pm: She reported from Milan for almost a week, now RTL reporter Liv von Boetticher returned with her cameraman from the risk area to Germany. The reporter accompanied her return trip to Frankfurt with a camera. The fear of the corona virus is already evident on the plane, the machine only takes off with a few passengers on board. A first flight had already been canceled due to fewer passengers, explains von Boetticher.

The RTL reporter describes that on her return trip, the temperature was not measured at the airport in Italy, nor at the airport in Frankfurt, nor was the data of the passengers noted.

After an investigation in Germany, the reporter first gives the all-clear: an infection has not yet been confirmed. However, Liv von Boetticher and her cameraman measured a slightly higher temperature. Infection cannot be ruled out at this point in time. Both should now measure fever every day and initially keep away from many people.

The fear of the corona virus has also reached the Chancellery. This shows a scene that took place between Merkel and Seehofer.

Update from March 2, 9.30 a.m .: In Italy there is an emergency in many places because of the corona virus *. In addition, in the exclusion zones , increased security measures are taken - for example at public events such as soccer games. The pictures show how, for example, spectators have to undergo medical tests before a football game in the first Italian league. A fever was measured before entering the Lecce club stadium. The emergency services were equipped with breathing masks .

Coronavirus - Italy

© dpa / Donato Fasano

A prisoner in a German prison may be infected with the corona virus - the area has been completely closed off.

Coronavirus in Italy: death toll increases - blocking of municipalities extended

Update of March 1st, 9:56 pm: As expected, Italy has extended the closure of eleven municipalities in the north of the country. Prime Minister Conte signed a corresponding document on Sunday. Ten of the eleven municipalities affected by the closure are in Lombardy, one in Veneto.

Update from March 1st, 6:43 pm: In Italy the number of deaths from the new corona virus has risen to 34 . This was announced by civil protection chief Angelo Borrelli in Rome on Sunday. That was five more than the previous day. According to his information, 1,694 people are now infected with the Sars CoV-2 pathogen. Of these, 83 have already recovered.

Meanwhile, there is also a new case in Bavaria. A 45-year-old has contracted the virus.

Corona virus in Italy: massive economic consequences - billion dollar aid planned for companies

Update of March 1st, 12:32 pm: Because of the coronavirus outbreak , the Italian government is planning a multi-billion aid package for the ailing economy . Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said in an interview published on Sunday by the newspaper La Repubblica that the sum of 3.6 billion euros . Gualtieri announced that the cabinet plans to adopt the measures by the end of the week.

Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte also spoke in Rome's Il Fatto Quotidiano newspaper about Rome's wish to increase the deficit ratio for the state budget . Agencies quote the Prime Minister that this will be coordinated with the European Union . Gualtieri was optimistic that Rome could convince the EU. "I have no reason to fear that Brussels will contest our request," he said.

Coronavirus in Italy: number of infected people rises to more than 1,000 - so far 29 deaths

Update from February 29, 6:54 p.m .: The number of people infected with the new coronavirus has risen to more than 1,000 in Italy , 29 people have died . This was announced by civil defense chief Angelo Borrelli a week after the latest Sars CoV-2 outbreak was announced on Saturday in Rome.

Update from February 29, 8.32 a.m .: Bavaria is potentially at risk due to its proximity to Italy. This is what the official recommendations for corona virus protection in Bavaria * look like.

Update of February 28, 3:35 p.m .: As the EU Commission now announces, Italy has asked its European partners for help with the procurement of protective masks . A spokeswoman for the agency in Brussels said that it is currently being examined which EU countries could send masks.

At the same time, it is being discussed in Brussels how the EU countries can jointly buy material for protection against the corona virus *.

In the meantime, respiratory masks are sold on the Internet at exorbitant prices. The prices for disinfectants are also rising. US President Donald Trump is changing a political date because of the coronavirus cases. At the same time, 73-year-old came up with a curious thesis.

Read also: No need to panic: The corona virus is really that dangerous

Coronavirus in Italy: residents report from exclusion zone - further infections

Update of February 28, 12.45 p.m .: Despite the fear of the corona virus , people in Italy are trying to restore a little normalcy in the exclusion zone . As a resident from the affected town of Codogno in Lombardy told the German press agency , kiosks have now reopened in addition to supermarkets , bakeries and pharmacies.

People would take to the streets again - even if they would keep their distance from each other for fear of being infected with the coronavirus *. Like ten other municipalities in northern Italy, Codogno has been in quarantine for almost a week.

As the resident reported, the lock would spend a lot of time with their families - that was the positive side of it. The negative is that you spend money on overpriced respirators or disinfectants . The ban should last until at least March 1st.

The German government has already initiated various measures to contain the coronavirus in Germany. Whole cities have not yet been cordoned off.

Coronavirus in Italy: Despite all measures - the number of infected continues to increase

Update of February 27, 6.55 p.m .: The number of people infected with the new coronavirus in Italy continues to increase despite all containment measures. In the meantime, 650 people have tested positive, said civil protection chief Angelo Borrelli on Thursday in Rome. The day before, there were around 400 infected people. The good news is that dozens have recovered. The number of deaths is now 17 (12 the day before). Most cases are still in northern Lombardy, followed by Veneto and Emilia-Romagna.

Update of February 27, 1:07 p.m .: The number of people who died in Italy from the novel corona virus has risen to 14. On Thursday, two more people died from the effects of the virus . This reports bild.de in relation to the Italian civil defense.

Corona virus in Italy: exit ban for hotel guests in Tenerife

Update from February 27, 9:08 a.m .: First cases have been reported from other European countries, such as Denmark, Norway, Estonia and Romania. In Italy, where Europe has the largest outbreak with more than 400 infected people and at least 12 dead, Lombardy’s Regional President Attilio Fontana went into quarantine. He had worked closely with an infected, he shared on Wednesday evening on Facebook.

Update from February 26th, 10:08 pm: German holidaymakers in the sealed off hotel in Tenerife will have to extend their trip for better or worse . The house is in quarantine until further notice. There is also a former picture journalist who describes to his ex-colleagues how the situation is developing. The guests were informed in an absolutely sterile manner via a slip of message that was pushed under the door. Although there is only an exit ban for the hotel , they are still asked to stay in their rooms.

In the United States, the fear of the coronavirus is spreading faster than the disease itself. Some US stars are now taking drastic measures to avoid becoming infected. Meanwhile, an expert on Maybrit Illner's corona virus talk (ZDF) lost patience.

Quarantined hotel in Tenerife: guests are only allowed to fetch coffee with a face mask

Thousands of bottles of water have been delivered and are ready in the foyer. Two meals are brought to guests' rooms daily. You can get fresh coffee yourself with a face mask .

"But we don't let the mood spoil us," the journalist remains in a good mood. He and his friends meet despite the warnings about playing cards. " If one of us has it, everyone has it anyway - we were together all week," he explains with a pinch of gallows humor.

He doesn't see the guests of the adjacent hotel in safety either . The curfew has only been in effect since 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening, before that he and his friends were there for a drink. "It may well be that there is now a quarantine alarm ," he fears.

Coronavirus in France: Minister of Health confirms second death - but remains optimistic

Meanwhile, good and very bad news comes from France . The French health minister, Agnès Buzyn, confirmed that twelve of the 18 infected French were healthy again . Unfortunately, he also has to report a second death .

Coronavirus: death toll in Italy is rising rapidly - man died in Paris

Update of February 26, 5:20 pm : Pope Francis (83) is not afraid of crowds. At the traditional general audience on St. Peter's Square with thousands of pilgrims, the Catholic head of the church approached the crowd on Wednesday, shaking hands and kissing children.

The archeology agency in the Vatican announced on the same day that the Christian catacombs across the country were initially closed to visitors due to the Sars CoV 2 outbreak.

Europe is hard hit by the corona virus. Germany's Health Minister Jens Spahn is now sounding the alarm and is talking about the beginning of an epidemic.

Coronavirus in Italy: "International Health Crisis"

Update of February 26, 2:14 p.m .: EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides called on Wednesday all member countries to revise their pandemic plans with a view to the new corona virus . "The European Union is still in the containment phase, it is important to underline this," Kyriakides emphasized to the press in Rome on Wednesday.

So it goes on to protect against a very large expansion. But the situation with the new lung disease could change quickly. This can also be seen in the recent outbreak in Italy. The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has now occurred in 23 provinces:

The European Union is doing everything it can to protect its citizens from the new Corona virus, Kyriakides said. The Italian Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, emphasized that it was an international health crisis, not so much a national one.

Corona virus in Italy: death toll increases

Update of February 26, 1:37 p.m .: The death toll in Italy has continued to rise: 12 people have died of the Covid-19 virus. 374 people have contracted the Sars-CoV-2 virus, said civil defense in Rome on Wednesday. Four children in Lombardy, as the Italian news agency Ansa.it reports , test positive for the Covid-19: a 4-year-old girl, two 10-year-olds and another boy at the age of 15.

First Frenchman dies of corona virus

Update of February 26, 10:25 a.m .: One person died of the coronavirus in Paris (France), reports francetvinfo.fr . It is said to be a 60 year old man.

Update of February 25, 8:21 pm: France has reported two new infections with the coronavirus Sars-CoV-2. One of the victims was a Frenchman who had previously been in Lombardy, Italy, health director Jérôme Salomon said on Tuesday. The second person is a young Chinese woman who returned from China in early February. The health status of both patients is not of concern, the health director said. You would be treated in clinics.

There has been a Covid 19 death in France so far - an 80-year-old Chinese tourist died in mid-February. Eleven people were cured. With the new cases, the total number of infections reported in France increases to 14.

The coronavirus outbreak in Italy is worrying. The virus has arrived in Europe. Now there are first cases in Germany.

Corona virus in Italy: death toll continues to rise

Update of February 25, 6:35 p.m .: As Roberto Speranza, Minister of Health of Italy, explains at a press conference of the EU Health Ministers in the evening, the borders with Italy should remain open for the time being. Accordingly, closing the borders is "disproportionate". The death toll has risen to 11, and the number of people infected in Italy is now 322.

Corona virus in Italy: Now the first case in Switzerland

Update from February 25, 5:05 p.m .: The Federal Office of Public Health has confirmed the first Cornona virus case in Switzerland. A 70-year-old man from the canton of Ticino is said to have been infected. He had previously been in Milan. The office announces further information for 5 p.m.

Update of February 25, 3:53 p.m .: The first confirmed coronavirus case in Switzerland , the media report. One person is said to have tested positive for the Sars-CoV-2 virus on Tuesday. Kraotien also reported the first known coronavirus case on Tuesday. The young man lies isolated in a clinic in the capital in Zagreb. The government said he had just returned from Milan a few days ago.

Corona virus in Italy: Deutsche Post suspends delivery of parcels

Update from February 25, 3:14 p.m .: Deutsche Post has suspended the delivery of parcels in affected regions in northern Italy . On Tuesday, a post spokeswoman for the dpa said that the pick-up and delivery of the items via Italian partners are currently not taking place in the communities of the regions most affected.

When sending letters, Swiss Post works with local partner companies, DHL is active worldwide as a deliverer for parcels - and thus also in Italy.

The international spread of the corona virus has meanwhile also had consequences for the German economy.

Italian vacationers tested positive for the corona virus - 1000 hotel guests in quarantine

Update from February 25, 11:54 am : An Italian vacationer was tested positive for the corona virus on the popular holiday island of Tenerife. The hotel, in which the Italian (69) was housed, has now been sealed off from the outside world. The hotel was quarantined, reports the blick.ch news portal.

1000 tourists are said to be trapped in the facility. Tests should now show whether other guests have contracted the virus. The Ministry of Health has activated the Corona emergency protocol on the Canary Island of Tenerife. The hotel was placed under "sanitary control," but not quarantined, a spokeswoman for the local health agency told AFP on Tuesday. The agency spokeswoman said that the Italian's second virus test is currently being awaited. This will probably be available "in the afternoon or evening".

The affected hotel H10 Costa Adeje Palace has 467 rooms and can also be booked in Germany via the tour operator Tui.

The corona virus has now arrived in Austria. Two cases of infection are reported from Tyrol.

Coronavirus: first case in southern Italy

Update from February 25, 10:10 am : A woman from Bergamo tested positive for the corona virus on vacation in Palermo , reports the Italian news agency Ansa.it. After the appearance of flu symptoms, the tourist was checked for the Sars-CoV-2 in a hospital. The woman was traveling with a group as a tourist. A quarantine has been set up for everyone, it is said. It is the first Covid19 case in southern Italy.

In the Aosta Valley, however, the suspected coronavirus cases have not been confirmed, says Ansa.it. South Tyrol , on the other hand, is probably the first coronavirus infection . The young South Tyrolean had previously stayed in Castiglione d'Adda. His second test was positive, the authorities said. However, the man shows "currently no symptoms."

The focus of the Coronavirus outbreak in Italy has so far affected regions in the north of the country:

• Lombardy
• Veneto
• Piedmont
• Liguria
• Emilia Romagna
• Friuli-Venezia Giulia
• South-Tirol

Corona virus in Italy: football games without spectators

Update of February 25, 9:16 a.m .: Italy allows matches of the first soccer league to be played without spectator participation. The minister initially did not say which league games will be affected by the measure next weekend.

It was also announced on Tuesday that the Europa League encounter between Inter Milan and Bulgarian champion Ludogorets Rasgrad will also be held in front of empty seats at the San Siro stadium this Thursday. Milan is in the Lombardy region, which is particularly affected by the corona virus. Italy is currently by far the country with the most recorded corona cases in Europe.

Italian tourist brings corona virus to popular Spanish holiday island - death toll continues to rise

Update of February 25, 7:08 am : The Spanish health authorities have diagnosed a new coronavirus case in the country. On the Canary Island of Tenerife, a visitor from Italy had been tested positive for the new virus, the television reported on Tuesday night, citing the local health authorities. According to the broadcaster RTVE, the man is a 69-year-old from Lombardy, the area most affected by the virus in northern Italy at the moment. A German had previously tested positive on the Canary Island of La Gomera. The man has already been released.

On the mainland, according to RTVE data in Valladolid, a young man was examined who had recently returned from Milan "with symptoms of a respiratory infection". An investigation result is still pending. In Italy and South Korea, infections with the Sars-CoV-2 virus have recently skyrocketed.

The infectious disease is still raging worst in China. As the Beijing Health Commission announced on Tuesday, another 71 people were killed by the disease called Covid-19 . The total number of victims in China rose to 2,663 . The number of infections detected rose by 508 to 77,658 .

Coronavirus alarm: Seven fatalities in Italy

Update at 10.45 p.m .: After counting the most recorded coronavirus cases in Europe in Italy , the country reacted with drastic measures. The President of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) believes that foreclosure of entire communities due to the Corona virus as in Italy is impossible in Germany. "I cannot imagine quarantine of entire towns in Germany," said Lothar H. Wieler on Monday evening in the "Today Journal" of ZDF in Mainz. People would then have to be provided with food and water, but also with medical help. That is very difficult in a quarantine area. Italy has cordoned off several municipalities because of the corona virus.

The new virus has come closer to Germany , Wieler stated. "It is very clear that the likelihood is increasing that we will continue to see more cases in Germany in the future." The health system must continue to make efforts to identify cases early and to limit their spread. Many doctors and people in this country are attentive and would probably be tested for the virus in good time, so that there is still a chance that an outbreak in Germany could be contained.

Update at 9.30 p.m .: Now the German Press Agency (dpa), citing government officials, confirmed that at least seven infected people had died of the coronavirus in Italy by early Monday evening - all had previous illnesses. The number of proofs of infection rose to more than 220, as civil protection chief Angelo Borrelli said in the evening in Rome. The drastic measures in Italy, such as restricted areas, could not prevent the spread. More than 25 people are in the intensive care unit. On the previous evening there were still around 150 reported infected people. Italy is currently by far the country with the most recorded coronavirus cases in Europe.

Update at 19:53: After the corona virus in Italy has already claimed several lives , Ferrari has reacted to the tense situation. As the dpa reports with reference to a statement by the sports car manufacturer, its museums in Maranello and Modena are to be closed until March 1 for the time being. Employees from the affected areas or who were visiting there initially had restricted access; all external visits including factory tours were canceled. Ferrari also wants to continue to monitor the situation closely and take further measures if necessary. It is still unclear whether these will also have an impact on the work of the Formula 1 team and the German world champion driver Sebastian Vettel. A race has already been canceled due to the corona virus.

Update at 5.46 p.m .: While Bild.de speaks of seven casualties from the corona virus in Italy (see our report below), the German Press Agency (dpa) speaks of six casualties. According to dpa, five people died in Lombardy, as the health official of the northern Italian region announced on Monday. The dead are older people. Lombardy is the most affected region in Italy.

Update, 4:50 p.m . : There is a seventh fatality in Italy . As the picture reports, it is an 80-year-old man from Lombardy . He had been treated in a clinic in the city of Lodi last week after a heart attack. According to the picture , the doctors assume that he has contracted other patients .

Corona virus: Six deaths in Italy - gloomy forecast now for Germany

Update, 4.10 p.m .: After the spread of the corona virus in Italy , the German Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) expressed himself in Berlin. In view of the situation in northern Italy, Germany is also preparing for a serious situation. "The Corona epidemic has arrived in Europe as an epidemic," said Spahn. One must expect that the Covid-19 * will spread in the form of a pandemic . The federal government also anticipates spreading in Germany .

So far, 16 coronavirus infections have been reported in Germany. However, experts warn that there are likely to be other undetected cases. When asked whether entire cities could be closed off in the Federal Republic after a major outbreak, Jens Spahn stated that theoretically a lot is conceivable. However, there are "many intermediate stages". The Health Minister further emphasized: "We always respond appropriately and proportionately."

Corona virus outbreak in Italy: Sixth person dies - Lombard victim

Update, 3:30 p.m .: As the Italian broadcaster RAI reports, a sixth person died in Italy from the corona virus. According to initial information, it is a woman from the Lombardy region . Apparently the patient had also developed cancer.

Coronavirus: death toll increased - 88-year-old from Lombardy died

Update, 1:40 p.m .: The fifth coronavirus infection died in Italy. The 88-year-old was killed in Lombardy, civil protection chief Angelo Borrelli said in Rome on Monday.

As the coronavirus continues to spread in Italy, the question of the origin of the disease arises. A dramatic search for "patient zero" is underway.

Coronavirus in Italy: number of infected people soars - 212 cases confirmed

Update from February 24, 12.25 p.m .: The number of people infected with the coronavirus * in Italy is increasing by leaps and bounds. According to national civil protection, there are now 212 confirmed cases, reports RTL . Most recently, 165 people were affected. Four people have died of lung disease in Italy so far.

Soldiers wear face masks and patrol the Milan Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo).

© dpa / Claudio Furlan

Coronavirus: Austrian hospital staff in quarantine - It attended the Venice Carnival

Update from February 24, 11.35 a.m .: In Styria in Austria , eleven hospital employees are in quarantine at home - before that they went on a trip to Italy . As the Austrian portal oe24.at reports, the employees of a clinic had visited the Carnival in Venice . They had informed the hospital management about this while they were still on their way home. You will now remain in quarantine for twelve days.

The Styrian hospital company had decided to take this step, which was a "pure precaution". Karlheinz Tscheliessnigg, CEO of the hospital company, is quoted on oe24.at. "We rely on the greatest possible security to rule out every conceivable possibility of infection ," continued Tscheliessnigg.

Coronavirus: man dies in clinic in Bergamo - hamster purchases in supermarkets

Update from February 24th, 10:05 am: Details of the fourth casualty in Italy are now known. It is an 84-year-old man. He died in a clinic in Bergamo. Attilio Fontana , regional president of Lombardy , said that the man had previously had other medical conditions.

The spread of Covid-19 in Lombardy has increased rapidly - 165 people are currently infected. The Italian region is considered the most affected. However, Fontana asked the people of Lombardy not to buy hamsters . “The race for food doesn't make sense. The deliveries are secured, ”he said. In advance, pictures appeared that showed empty supermarket shelves in Milan . Long lines of people formed at the cash registers .

Ten municipalities in the province of Lodi in Lombardy are now considered restricted areas because of the corona virus *. They are south of Milan . Another municipality in Veneto was sealed off.

Coronavirus: Fourth death in Italy - Bergamo man dies

Update of February 24, 9:03 am : According to media reports, Italy reports a fourth death. According to corriere.it, the dead person is said to be an 84-year-old man from Bergamo.

Update of February 24, 6.58 a.m .: There was uncertainty on Sunday evening for hours. 500 rail passengers were stuck at the Brenner. Austrian authorities had stopped train traffic between Italy and Austria. The all-clear at around midnight - the suspected coronavirus cases had not been confirmed. Two women with cough and fever had tested negative for Covid19. All passengers were allowed to travel on. On Monday, train traffic between Germany, Austria and Italy will go according to plan again, said Deutsche Bahn.

152 infected and three deaths were reported in Italy, the Italian news agency Ansa.it said . The virus had been detected in the third deceased, but the 78-year-old suffered from cancer.

The north of Italy is quarantined. Schools are closed. Universities in Piedmont, Veneto and Genoa a week close. Trade fairs in Venice canceled, the Milan Cathedral is also closed to visitors.

Coronavirus escalation: Austria stops trains to and from Italy

Update from February 23, 9:37 p.m .: Austria has completely stopped train traffic with Italy. This was announced by the Austrian railway company ÖBB on Sunday evening. Accordingly, all train connections with neighboring Austria will be suspended. The reason: fear of coronavirus infections. Two rail passengers coming from Italy are suspected of being infected with the corona virus. A Eurocity that started in Venice and had its destination in Munich was stopped at the Brenner border crossing on Sunday evening.

Corona virus in Italy: several cities cordoned off, three people already killed - panicked hamster purchases

Update of February 22, 2020, 7:50 p.m .: There is great panic in large parts of northern Italy, mainly in Lombardy and Veneto, where 89 and 25 cases of corona infection have already been reported. Sanctions such as the quarantine of a dozen municipalities and the ban on entry and entry for around 50,000 people are currently causing hamster purchases and long lines in front of the supermarkets.

Corona virus in Italy: affected people hoard food - supermarkets overwhelmed

Those affected are already hoarding food for the coming days because an attempt to leave the restricted area is punished with an arrest . In a supermarket in the city of Casalpusterlengo, according to the picture , only 20 people are admitted, who need ten minutes to fill the baskets. Citizens currently only dare to go out on the streets, if at all, with suitable mouth guards .

Corona virus chaos

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There's no potatoes left in the supermarket .... (Esselunga Milan)

Photos by me pic.twitter.com/v5umq7N3fN

The third death on Sunday triggered additional panic in the blocked communities. A 78-year-old woman who already had cancer died of the coronavirus. The other two fatalities were 77 and 78 years old.

Coronavirus in Italy: Armani show at Fashion Week without an audience

The Milan Fashion Week is also affected by the largest outbreak of the Corona virus in Europe in northern Italy. The Giorgio Armani show scheduled for Sunday, in which the fall / winter 2020/21 women's collection was presented, was held without an audience due to the high risk of infection. The show was only broadcast online via livestream. "The decision was made for the benefit of my guests so as not to expose them to a large crowd," said fashion designer Armani.

Coronavirus in Italy: 130 cases already recorded - Three deaths already

Update of February 23, 2020, 3:55 p.m .: After the closure of some Italian cities due to the new Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2 , the Federal Government has contacted the authorities there. "Our embassy and the German consulates in Italy are in contact with the Italian authorities in the event that the Italian measures affect Germans," it said on Sunday from the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. Returnees from the affected regions in northern Italy were advised to follow the relevant instructions from the Robert Koch Institute and the Federal Center for Health Education on their websites.

Despite drastic containment measures, the number of infections with the new type of corona virus has continued to rise in Italy . By Sunday afternoon, more than 130 Sars CoV-2 cases had been recorded. Around 90 infections were detected in Lombardy alone, and the number of deaths rose to three. Numerous events were canceled as a precaution.

Corona virus: fear is widespread in Italy.

© picture alliance / dpa / Claudio Furlan

Coronavirus in Italy - now even affects Venice Carnival

Update of February 23, 2020, 1:05 p.m .: The President of the Veneto Region has commented on the measure to cancel the Venice Carnival. "We have to adapt to drastic measures," Zaia told reporters in the Veneto region. This includes the cancellation of the Venetian Carnival "and even more". The carnival celebrations, which actually run until Tuesday, initially continued on Sunday.

The city's mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, said the decision rests with the regional president and the special crisis unit. When asked if Sunday was the last day of Carnival, he said: "Yes, it's not up to me to say that. It is possible."

Update from February 23, 2020, 12.30 p.m .: In Italy, the number of confirmed infections with the new virus Sars-CoV-2 has risen to 109. In Lombardy, 89 cases have now been recorded, said the president of the most affected region, Attilio Fontana, on SkyTG24 on Sunday. In addition, the northern Italian region of Veneto was affected, where according to the latest figures from Italian civil protection there were 17 infected people. There were also individual positive tests in the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont.

The corona virus was discovered in Asterix's 2017 comic as the name of a villain. It is now clear how it came about.

Fear of the spread of the corona virus in Italy: Carnival in Venice canceled

Update of February 23, 2020, 11:40 a.m .: The famous Venice Carnival is being canceled due to concerns about the spread of the corona virus in northern Italy. This was announced by the President of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia, on Sunday.

Coronavirus in Italy: Dozens of cities quarantined

Update of February 23, 2020, 5.51 a.m .: The Italian government announced the isolation of about a dozen cities on Saturday due to concerns about the further spread of the new corona virus. In the areas considered to be epidemic centers, residents are neither allowed to enter nor to leave, said Prime Minister of Italy Giuseppe Conte. People could only move with "special exemptions". 79 infections have been reported in Italy so far, two people have died of lung disease Covid-19, according to authorities.

Conte also announced the closure of businesses and schools, as well as the cancellation of public events such as carnival celebrations and sports competitions. The authorities therefore canceled three games of the first football league scheduled for Sunday; they should be made up for. A game by the top club Inter Milan, which is still fighting for the championship, is also affected.

The area particularly affected by the spread of the novel corona virus is around the Lombard city of Codogno , 60 km from Milan . From there, 54 cases were reported, from the neighboring region of Veneto 17. There were two other cases in Emilia-Romagna and one in the Piedmont region. Italy is the European country with the largest number of cases of infection recorded.

According to the authorities, most cases in Lombardy are based on a 38-year-old man who is now seriously ill with Covid-19 and is being treated in an intensive care unit. The sufferer is the first confirmed coronavirus case in Codogno. Among other things, according to the authorities, his pregnant wife and a friend infected him. Where the 38-year-old got the virus from is still unclear. Assumptions that an Italian researcher who was considered "patient zero" was the carrier were not confirmed.

Italy: Fear of Rapid Spread of the Corona Virus - “Extraordinary Measures”

Announcement of origin from February 22, 2020: Rome - In Italy , concerns about the spread of the coronavirus * are being avoided. The country already has the highest number of infections with the Sars-CoV-2 virus in Europe and has already declared an emergency *. The number of confirmed infections with the Sars-CoV-2 virus has risen to seven in Veneto, the president of the region, Luca Zaia, reported on Saturday. The pathogen was therefore detected, among other things, in the woman and a daughter of the man, who is believed to be Italy's first Covid 19 death victim . In total, almost 40 documents were recorded in the country by Saturday afternoon.

Corona virus in Italy: fear of spreading the virus - counted most infected people in Europe

Italian civil defense spoke of a second victim whose death was attributable to the lung disease Covid-19 caused by Sars-CoV-2 . The first dead is a 78-year-old in Veneto, the second is a woman in Lombardy . The pensioner died on Friday before a final confirmation of coronavirus infection was reported. For the woman, too, there was initially no definitive confirmation.

The global spread of the corona virus has been in the headlines for weeks. The chronology of the disease * explains how this could have happened. The virus is also a major issue for air passengers. You can find out here how flight passengers should behave *.

Lombardy with 27 new infections of the coronavirus: schools and shops in the region closed.

In ten municipalities in Lombardy , schools and most of the shops were temporarily closed. Around 50,000 residents are encouraged to stay at home if possible. Major events such as services , carnivals and sports events were prohibited. Measures were also prepared in Veneto to prevent the virus from spreading further. Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte met for crisis talks with the country's civil protection agency . "New extraordinary measures" should be considered, wrote Conte on Facebook .

Cruise ship passengers from Japan landed in Rome - Quarantine ordered

On Saturday morning (February 22nd) an army plane with 19 Italians landed in Rome . They had been quarantined for two weeks on the cruise ship "Diamond Princess", on which there had been hundreds of infected people, because the risk of infection is very high. The Italian returnees are now being quarantined in a military complex in Rome.

Coronavirus in Italy: Breathe deeply in the first infected - Italians have recovered

Good news came to the first three known infected people in Italy - an Italian who returned from the Chinese city of Wuhan, which was badly affected by the epidemic, and an older Chinese tourist couple. The Italian had recovered from the infection, his discharge was imminent, said the treating Roman Spallanzani hospital . The virus was also no longer detectable in the Chinese husband. Nevertheless, there are already numerous travel warnings from the Federal Foreign Office because of the corona virus.

EU Health Ministers meet in Rome on Tuesday. The question remains: is Germany prepared for an emergency?

The first case of the corona virus in Germany came from Stockdorf near Munich. The man who is considered the first to be infected has now spoken about the time with the disease.

mm / tz / dpa / ml

* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.

Rubric list picture: © dpa / Francisco Seco