Coronavirus LIVE: 2 in Italy are first Europeans to die from killer bug
TWO people in northern Italy have died from coronavirus within 24 hours – the first Europeans to pass away after contracting the killer virus.
Retired bricklayer Adriano Trevisan, 77, died in hospital in Padua on Friday evening.
The father-of-three had been admitted to hospital for another health issue 10 days ago, according to authorities, and was among 30 suspected or confirmed cases in Italy date.
A second patient, an Italian woman whose identity is yet to be released, died hours later in Lombardy.
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TWO IN ITALY ARE FIRST EUROPEANS TO DIE
Two people have died from coronavirus in northern Italy within 24 hours.
The pair are the first Europeans to pass away after contracting the killer disease.
Retired bricklayer Adriano Trevisan, 77, died in hospital in Padua on Friday evening.
The father-of-three had been admitted to hospital for another health issue 10 days ago, according to authorities.
He was among 30 suspected or confirmed cases in Italy so far.
A second patient, an Italian woman whose identity is yet to be released to the public, died hours later in Lombardy.
Italy's “patient zero”, who is believed to have spread the disease, is reported to be a 38-year-old man from Codogno who is believed to have caught coronavirus from a mate who had returned from China in January.
It was reported he had gone to hospital with flu like symptoms but was sent home.
He returned later and was confirmed as having the virus.
He had been at work, had business meetings, run two races, played in a football team and had three restaurant dinners while having the disease.
In Lombardy, the government has banned all public events and shut schools in several small towns southeast of Milan.
Streets in the 10 Italian towns were deserted, with only a few people around and signs showing public spaces closed.
In Casalpusterlengo, a message board outside the town hall read “Coronavirus: the population is invited to remain indoors as a precaution”.
Health Minister Roberto Speranza said:”We had prepared a plan in recent days, because it was clear what has happened could somehow happen.”
Following the first confirmed cases, Italy stopped all direct flights to and from China.
“Diplomatic and economic issues are fundamental but health comes first,” Mr Speranza said.
Everyone who has entered Italy after visiting areas of China affected by coronavirus will have to stay home under surveillance, the health ministry confirmed.
Italian PM Giuseppe Conte has said “everything is under control”, and declared the government was maintaining “an extremely high level of precaution”.
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