ITALY is considering a ban on kissing and is closing ALL schools and universities as it tackles the worst coronavirus outbreak outside Asia.

Classrooms will shut down until March 15 and all sporting events will take place without fans until April 3 to help tackle the epidemic, as the virus death toll in the country hits 107.

The number of infections in Italy has rocketed to 2,263, including a newborn baby.

Ministers are now working frantically to contain the spiralling epidemic – but a final decision on the mass school closures is yet to be confirmed by education minister Lucia Azzolina, Italian media reports.

And it was reported officials are poised to ban greetings such as cheek kissing, hugging and shaking hands.

Today, the Italian government ordered all sporting events to take place without fans until April 3.

More than 2,500 people have tested positive for the virus in Italy as of Tuesday evening, after the number of cases surged over the weekend and again on Monday.

These numbers are changing constantly: view the latest figures here.

In order to stop the virus spreading further, the Italian government's special scientific committee on Coronavirus on Wednesday, publishedva set of recommendations it hopes everyone in the country will follow.

The guidelines include an end to kissing and hugging your friends, and a recommendation that all over-75s should stay at home, Italian media reports.

- No more baci e abbracci

The famous Italian habit of kissing and hugging friends and acquaintances (and in some areas, people you've just met) will have to stop for the next month, the committee has decreed. Handshakes are out, too.

- Keep your distance

The official advice states that people should avoid crowded places and keep “at least one metre” away from anyone else at all times.

- Self-isolate if you have any symptoms

Anyone showing even mild symptoms of potential coronavirus infection is advised to stay at home.

Do not go straight to a hospital or doctor's surgery. In Italy, you can call the government's coronavirus hotline on 1500 for emergency advice in English, Italian or Chinese.

- Over-75s should stay at home

The official advise is for all over '75s to stay at home and “avoid social contact”. Anyone over the age of 65 with health problems and people with respiratory conditions have also been advised to stay at home.

- Don't share glasses

The guidelines also warn not to drink from the same cups, glasses or bottles as anyone else “especially during sporting events”.

- New restrictions on hospital visitors

This month people will no longer be allowed to accompany friends or relatives into the emergency room and there will also be more restirctions on visitors to private clinics and retirement homes.

- Sporting events closed to the public

Health chiefs have recommended that all football matches and other sporting events in Italy be played behind clsed doors. This would include Serie A games, many of which have already been postponed due to the health ministry's recommendations.

"We have to work for the country by staying within the rules and adopting lifestyles that halt the classic paths of transmission," stated Silvio Brusaferro, the president of Italy's higher health institute, on Wednesday.

The warnings are in place for the whole of Italy for the next 30 days, though they will be re-evaluated every 15 days.

These rules are in addition to the basic hygiene advice previously issued by the Italian government.

Civil protection authorities are also setting set up tents in front of some hospitals to make sure suspected coronavirus cases do not come into contact with other patients.

According to the WHO, around 80 percent of people who contract the new coronavirus recover without needing special treatment.

Around one out of every six people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing.

Only around two percent of cases are fatal. Older people and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.

ValCon888:
The way these Italians are shipping out this Coronavirus to different countries, I don't know whether to call the virus "Made in Italy" or The Italian Job.

Ehiscotch:
I honestly don't know which is more nauseating of the two:
The level of paranoia or the bandwagon of dummies popping up with different incoherent conspiracy theories -- Hollywood has done more damage than good in this regard.

Anyways, I assume many are shocked how the so-called "heavily-industralized" and "technogically advanced" nations are struggling to contain the spread of a virus.
God has his ways of mocking the pseudo-intelligence of men and reminding them that they are nothing other than His and nothing guarantees man's survival other than His mercy.

Isn't it ironic how the most vulnerable are the least affected? Is it just a coincedence? is it even logical?

Ehiscotch:
I honestly don't know which is more nauseating of the two:
The level of paranoia or the bandwagon of dummies popping up with different incoherent conspiracy theories -- Hollywood has done more damage than good in this regard.

Anyways, I assume many are shocked how the so-called "heavily-industralized" and "technogically advanced" nations are struggling to contain the spread of a virus.
God has his ways of mocking the pseudo-intelligence of men and reminding them that they are nothing other than His and nothing guarantees man's survival other than His mercy.

Isn't it ironic how the most vulnerable are the least affected? Is it just a coincedence? is it even logical?