For the first time, someone in southern Italy has been infected with the corona virus COVID-19. A tourist from the northern Italian city of Bergamo tested positive in a hospital in Palermo in Sicily, reports the Italian news agency ANSA Tuesday.
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The patient, whose identity was not disclosed, was traveling with friends. Together with others with whom the tourist has been in contact, they have been quarantined on the island.
Up to this point, the infections in Italy were limited only to the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto. With more than 220 cases of infection and seven deaths, Italy is the country most affected by the virus in Europe.
Public life in northern Italy has come to a standstill. Football stadiums, cinemas and theaters, among others, remain empty. The famous Milan Cathedral is also closed to visitors. The Carnival of Venice was stopped early this weekend.
The tourism sector is under pressure
Lombardy and Veneto together account for around half of Italian exports. The tourism sector, which accounts for around 13 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in Italy, is under pressure due to the virus outbreak. For example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has Dutch nationals discouraged to travel to certain municipalities in Italy.
The virus suddenly started spreading rapidly in Italy last weekend. The source of the outbreak is still unclear.
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