Photo: ReutersThe death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has barrelled past 10,000, a figure that makes an extension of a national lockdown almost certain. "Without these measures, we would be seeing far worse numbers and our health service would be in a far more dramatic state. We would have been in an unsustainable situation," said Angelo Borelli, the Civil Protection head who reads out the numbers daily to the media and an anxious Italy. Italy's minister for southern regions expressed concerns about potential social tensions and civil unrest in poorer areas if, as expected, the epidemic moves south. Michele Emiliano, governor of the southern Puglia region, downplayed played fears of civil unrest in the south but said the lockdown may have to be extended until mid-May.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 28, 2020 19:52 UTC