Italy ordered all businesses, except for grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks in the country, to close amid the spread of the coronavirus.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Wednesday that companies in the European country would remain closed, starting Thursday.
Earlier this week, Italy expanded its lockdown to the entire nation of 60 million people, as the disease has now infected more than 12,400 individuals and killed more than 800 patients.
Italy publicly chastised members of the European Union for refusing to provide aid to the country as it struggles to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“Italy, the European country struck hardest by the coronavirus, has done everything it can to contain and manage the epidemic,” Maurizio Massari, Italy’s representative to the EU, wrote in an op-ed Wednesday. “We must ensure, under EU coordination, the supply of the necessary medical equipment and its redistribution among those countries and regions most in need. Today, this means Italy; tomorrow, the need could be elsewhere.”
“Italy has already asked to activate the European Union Mechanism of Civil Protection for the supply of medical equipment for individual protection,” Massari added. “But, unfortunately, not a single EU country responded to the Commission’s call. Only China responded bilaterally. Certainly, this is not a good sign of European solidarity.”
COVID-19 cases have appeared in every continent, except Antarctica. Nearly 125,000 people have tested positive for the virus around the world, killing at least 4,592 people. In the United States, more than 1,100 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and 32 patients have died. The World Health Organization declared coronavirus a global pandemic on Wednesday.
