Italy has announced it will close all schools and universities for a week and a half in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus as the death toll in the country rose to 107.
The nation’s minister for education Lucia Azzolina confirmed all educational centres would be closed from Thursday to 15 March.
The closures are part of a string of measures to contain the virus announced on Wednesday, including an order to hold all sporting events behind closed doors until 3 April.
Speaking alongside PM Giuseppe Conte, she said: “I hope pupils can return to school as soon as possible ... my commitment is to ensure that the essential public service, albeit from a distance, is provided to all our students”.
