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Italy Stops Planes To and From China Over Coronavirus

Sabina Castelfranco

   The Italian government declared a state of emergency Friday and closed
   all air traffic to and from China. The move came after confirmation
   that two Chinese tourists tested positive for the coronavirus. The
   couple are being treated in isolation in a Rome hospital specializing
   in infectious diseases.

   A special cabinet meeting held by the Italian government Friday
   declared a six-month state of emergency and allocated $5.5 million to
   deal with the coronavirus crisis. Further meetings were planned between
   the country's health authorities and the civil defense department to
   decide what additional measures were needed.

   Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte confirmed Thursday that a Chinese
   couple from Wuhan that had been staying in Rome's Palatino hotel, near
   the Colosseum, had been admitted to Rome's Spallanzani Hospital after
   showing symptoms of coronavirus.

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