In a drastic step from the government to stop the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, a quarter of the Italian population was in lock-down on Sunday.
Italy’s COVID-19 death count is now 233, more than any other country outside China.
The outbreak has now killed more than 3,500 people and infected over 105,000 across 95 countries and territories.
Italy’s measures, in place until April 3, bar people from entering or leaving vast areas of northern Italy without good reason, according to a decree published online.
The quarantine zones are home to more than 15 million people around Venice and financial capital Milan. Cinemas, theaters and museums will be closed nationwide.
The World Health Organization praised Italy for its “bold, courageous steps”, according to a tweet by its boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, however, urged Italy to ban its citizens from travelling abroad.
The lock-down does allow for the return home of those who were in the affected areas but live elsewhere, including tourists.
Flights appeared to be operating normally out of Milan and Venice airports and it was also business as usual at train stations.
The borders with Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia remain open.
Pope Francis, meanwhile, expressed solidarity on Sunday with the victims of the virus in his first live-streamed prayer and message from the Vatican.
“I join my brother bishops in encouraging the faithful to live this difficult moment with the strength of faith, the certainty of hope and the fervor of charity,” he said.
The WHO said the efforts of China and other countries were “demonstrating that spread of the virus can be slowed”.
