20th March, 2020
Italy set a new coronavirus record Friday in the death toll, as it jumped to 4,032, after recording 627 deaths in a single day.
China where the pandemic started late last year has 3248 deaths.
Europe’s worst hit nation recorded 5,986 new cases on Friday, again a new daily record.
There are now 47,021 confirmed cases in the country.
A concerned Italy’s health ministry on Friday approved new measures to limit people’s movements in an effort to contain Europe’s worst coronavirus outbreak.
From Saturday, parks and public gardens will be shut down and people will be allowed to take exercise only around their homes, a directive seen by Reuters said.
Games and recreational activities in the open air will also be prohibited.
“We must do even more to contain the contagion,” Health Minister Roberto Speranza said in a statement.