Italian airforce put on uplifting display as coronavirus continues to force country into lockdown

With Italy in lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has already infected more than 21,000 people in the country, the nation's airforce have put on an incredibly uplifting display of defiance.

In a performance which the airforce reportedly does on a regular basis, a set of jet fighters use coloured smoke to paint the Italian flag while Luciano Pavorotti's stirring rendition of 'Nessun Dorma' soundtracks the spectacle.

Footage of the event has gone viral on social media, with even Donald Trump sharing the footage, declaring 'the United States love Italy.'

Although, older footage of the same display has emerged online, the message of the song which translates as 'let no one sleep' seems more pertinent than ever.

Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte placed all of Italy onto lockdown earlier this month in an effort to stop the spread of the virus with only supermarkets and pharmacies being allowed to stay open. So far, Italy has reported more than 1,400 deaths.