As Italy has now seen its largest spike in Coronavirus cases since the outbreak first began, France has been forced to close The Louvre, one of the world’s most beloved and visited museums.
European authorities confirmed the total cases in Italy have moved from 1128 to 1694, which is around a 50% increase in just 24 hours. Currently, there are 34 people who have been confirmed dead from the disease, and a total of 83 confirmed as cured.
Coronavirus is also reportedly gaining momentum in France, where workers at the Louvre in Paris refused to open the iconic museum on Sunday over fears visitors could infect staff with COVID-19. There are now more than 100 cases in France.
Union leader Christian Galani told the AFP news agency staff had met before the doors opened on Sunday and decided the risk was too severe given the French government had the day before announced a ban on indoor gatherings of 5000 or more people.
“The Louvre is a confined space which welcomes more than 5000 people a day,” he said. “There is a real concern on the part of the staff.”
A statement on the museum’s website said it “cannot open today” and promised to refund tickets.
The Health Department has updated its figures on COVID-19 in Australia. As of 6:30 am AEDT, there are 29 confirmed cases in Australia:
- Nine in Queensland
- Six in New South Wales
- Nine in Victoria
- Three in South Australia
- Two in Western Australia
According to the Sydney Morning Herald:
“Of the 1577 people who have the virus in Italy, nearly 800 are in home isolation, 639 in a stable condition in hospital and a further 140 in intensive care.
Nearly 1000 of the cases are in the Lombardy region to Italy’s north where authorities last week placed a quarantine cordon around nearly a dozen small towns.
American Airlines has said it will immediately cease all flights to Milan, the capital of Lombardy, until the end of April, citing a lack of demand.”
