Italy to close all shops and venues as death toll soars

Italy will close all restaurants, bars and shops across the country in an effort to curb the spread of the COVID-19, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Wednesday.

Only pharmacies and supermarkets will be allowed to remain open, Conte added.

On Wednesday the death toll in Italy, Europe's worst affected country, jumped to 827. Confirmed cases across Italy rose to 12,462 from a previous 10,149, said the country's Civil Protection Agency.

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