Coronavirus: Inside Rome – a ghost town in lockdown

Italy is currently seeing faster daily death toll jumps than any other country

Out of all countries in Europe, none are experiencing the grim reality of the COVID-19 outbreak worse than Italy. The country is in lockdown and the population only permitted to leave their homes for essential trips to buy groceries or medicine. Usually a bustling tourism hotspot, the Italian capital of Rome is now more reminiscent of a ghost town, with inhabitants being asked to fill out forms in the event that they meet police on the street. On that form they must state their purpose for leaving the house. Should they not return to their home promptly, police have the right to arrest them. This is the reality of living in a country threatened by the coronavirus. We spoke to an Italian journalist to find out what daily life is like in a city under lockdown.