The government will not allow migrants rescued by the European Union's anti-trafficking mission in the Mediterranean to disembark at Italy's ports amid the global coronavirus pandemic, foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said on Monday.
"Italy cannot make its ports available for migrant landings," Di Maio posted to Facebook after a videoconference with EU foreign ministers.
"We cannot as we simply need to make all our resources available to our citizens," the post added.
Italy "asks for and wants help", read the post.
"We need to concentrate our energies on containing this virus and on helping our doctors and nurses who are giving their lives to save others. We need to get back on our feet and we will," the post ended.
At least 23 doctors have died in Italy during its month-long coronavirus outbreak that has overwhelmed the health system and killed over 6,000 people - far more than in any other country including China.
