Thursday marked the start of a 10-day shutdown of all schools and universities as Italy battles to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Previously, schools were closed on a case-by-case basis, as and when people tested positive for the coronavirus.

The unprecedented measure was announced on Wednesday by the education minister at a joint news conference with the country's prime minister, Giuseppe Conte.

He believes the move is required to relieve the pressure on the country's beleaguered health care system.

Italy is dealing with the largest outbreak in Europe and more than 100 people have died in the country so far.

With millions of children now out of school, parents who work are having their professional lives disrupted.

Nicola Pavone would normally be working on a Thursday, but CGTN Europe spoke to him as he was looking after his children instead.

With his wife's job continuing as normal, the 47-year-old web designer had no option but to stay at home because his daughters' school is closed.

He understands why Italy's schools were shut, though he thinks the government also needs to encourage people to be calm.

"The feeling now, for some people, is like the apocalypse," he said. "In some places in the north, the supermarket shelves are empty, people are panicking and I think the most important thing for the government is clear communication, so people do not panic."

Italy's economy has been badly damaged by the outbreak.

Codacons, Italy's main consumer association, said closing schools could cause chaos for families and businesses will be hit hard by "a drop in productivity across all of Italy and enormous economic repercussions."

Universities are having to comply with the official government decree to close as well.

Some undergraduate and master's students are going to have their classes offered via an online platform.

The move to digital learning has already been tried in Hong Kong, as classes closed to deal with the outbreak there earlier in the year.

But online teaching is not something that all institutions have the capacity for.

"Not all universities are prepared for this," said Nicola Borri, a professor of economics at the LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome. "We hope that the 10-day period is not extended because it has already been disruptive. I have two children myself and we now have to organize a babysitter.

"If the period does go on for longer than 10 days, then the disruption is going to be significant.”

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