Around 16 million people have been placed under quarantine in Northern Italy - to try and control the rapid spread of COVID-19 in what is Europe's worst outbreak. The whole of the Lombardy region is under lockdown, plus fourteen other areas in neighbouring regions.

The unprecedented decree, that affects more than a quarter of Italians, forbids anyone from leaving or entering the new red zones except for exceptional circumstances until at least 3 April. People there felt shock and panic as the decision was leaked by the media in advance.  

A local journalist, Alberto Manyani, told CGTN that thousands of people crowded train stations in Lombardy trying to escape to southern Italy in scenes that may only lead to spreading the disease.