The "unprecedented" measures the government has rolled out - including putting the Lombardy region in quarantine - are the best way to combat the escalating coronavirus epidemic and relaunch Italy's troubled economy foreign minister Luigi Di Maio stated on Monday.
"These measures are unprecedented but are the best way to kick-start Italy and defeat this virus as soon as possible," Di Maio wrote on Facebook.
The post urged Italians to obey the quarantine measures, "stay home to help our families and our heroes (medical staff)" and "rediscover our sense of responsibility."
"You must do your utmost to limit the opportunities for contagion."
Up to 16 million people in northern Italy now need permission to travel under quarantine rules introduced on Sunday to counter the outbreak of Covid 19. Besides Lombardy, more than a dozen other provinces including Parma, Modena, Padua and Venice are in quarantine until at least 3 April.
The dramatic new coronavirus outbreak has now killed at least 366 people in Italy and inflected over 6,380 making Italy the worst-hit country outside China, placing a strain on its healthcare system and raising fears of economic recession.
Italy has closed all schools, universities, cinemas, theatres, concert-halls sports stadiums, swimming pools, gyms and has halted sports training sessions and matches until 16 March as part of efforts to mitigate the coronvirus outbreak.
Italy's government has pledged to further increase spending in a "massive shock therapy" to offset the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
Premier Giuseppe Conte already announced 7.6 billion euros of funds last week to help families and businesses weather the coronavirus emergency which began in Italy in late January.
At a press conference in Rome on Thursday with Conte, finance minister Roberto Gualtieri said Rome is seeking a green light from Brussels for a deviation of 6.35 billion euros from its budget target deficit target due to the extra coronavirus mitigation spending.
Italy's budget deficit target will forecast to rise from 2.2 per cent to over 2.5 per cent as a result of the additional spending.
