Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte tried to ward off alarm from spreading throughout Europe's fourth-biggest economy after he personally unveiled draconian measures in the middle of the night to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
In a hastily convened news conference, the head of a government already hanging by a thread confirmed Italy planned to dramatically restrict movement and activity for a quarter of its population in the economic powerhouse that is the region around Milan.
As news of the measures leaked, it was clear Italians were having an immediate reaction. Video footage on social media showed people rushing to get on the last train out and escape a virtual lockdown that will see people housebound. Schools have already been shut as tourism has ground to a halt and businesses take a hit in a country already on the brink of recession.