Italy is now the European epicenter for the novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China. It was a dramatic weekend for coronavirus cases in Italy. On Friday morning, there were only three confirmed cases.

By Tuesday, more than 283 had been confirmed and a seventh person had died. According to The Washington Post, cases of the coronavirus are rising.
Authorities still don’t know where the coronavirus originated, which makes it hard to track and stop the outbreak. Cases have also been confirmed in Tuscany and Sicily.
Authorities put 12 towns on lockdown and closed some of the country’s most famous attractions. Wary citizens are stockpiling food.
Here’s how Italy is dealing with the coronavirus, in photos. Lombardy and Veneto, are the two regions with the most confirmed cases. According to the Financial Times, they make up about one-third of Italy’s economy, and the virus’ impact could be damaging to its struggling economy.
Lombardy has 212 of the cases. In Milan, the streets are deserted.

Italian Prime Minister told RAI, he was surprised by the “explosion of cases” and that his government was doing everything it could to contain the virus.