‘The situation is dramatic’: Italy scrambles to limit coronavirus spread – and economic fallout

The country is trying to strike a balance between adopting preventive measures and limiting the inevitable strain on the economy, writes Alessio Perrone in Milan

Paramedic treats patients in a tent set up by the Italian Civil Protection outside the emergency ward of the Piacenza hospital, northern Italy (AP)

Bars across Milan are opening for aperitivo for the first time in five days, a welcome move for owners who have been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak.

Since 23 February, restaurant and bars across the northern Italian region of Lombardy were forced to close early at 6pm, but on Wednesday Attilio Fontana, the regional governor, announced the restrictions would be lifted.

The development is telling. In the wake of the first coronavirus contagions last week, Italian authorities rushed to adopt strict measures to prevent the spread of the virus.