Italy has scrambled to halt the spread of Europe’s first major outbreak of coronavirus amid rapidly rising numbers of infections and a sixth death.
Cases in the country doubled within a few days to more than 200 – the most in Europe.
In the regions of Lombardy and Veneto, a lock-down is in place in several towns, affecting about 50,000 people.
There is concern that unless the outbreak of the virus is contained within Italy, there could be more rapid spread in other European countries.
Civil protection officials said two elderly men in northern Lombardy are among the dead.
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