Italy extends lockdown but hopes to turn corner, Hacker News

        

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Italy has extended its lockdown until Easter, but there is some hope as the country reports a declining infection rate.

The number of new coronavirus infections reported on Monday was 1, , as opposed to 3, the previous day.

The death toll, however, rose again, with 823 deaths reported, compared with 812 the day before.

Italy believes the peak of its crisis will come in just over a week’s time.

It is the world’s hardest hit country in terms of number of deaths.

In total, , have died in the country, the government says.

On Monday, the national doctors’ association announced the deaths of more doctors, taking the total up to 95.

The lockdown – which was due to end on Friday – will now continue until at least 30 April, which is Easter Sunday.

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                       

Italians have been living under these strict rules for three weeks, with most shops, bars and restaurants shut. They are not allowed to leave their homes unless it is deemed essential.

The governor of the southern region of Puglia said on Saturday the restrictions should remain in place until May.

What else is happening in Europe?

Spain s total of people testing positive has reached , – higher than that of China, where the outbreak began. Spain is the worst-hit country after Italy, with 7, 340 deaths in total. But Foreign Minister Arancha González says the latest national figures show the virus’s upwards curve appears to be flattening out .

Germany has so far avoided a deadly outbreak on the scale of Spain and Italy, but it did report a jump in cases on Monday of 4, 751, bringing ITS total to 85, .

Hungary s

government has declared sweeping emergency powers

and can rule by decree. Prime Minister Viktor Orban pledged to act proportionately, but opponents – including human rights campaigners outside Hungary – accuse him of eroding democracy. There is no time limit on these powers, and journalists could face jail if officials dislike their reporting on the crisis. In

Russia , Moscow began a lockdown of its 30 million residents as the government moves to curb an outbreak. In
Austria , shoppers will now be required to wear masks inside stores, authorities announced on Monday.

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