The following day was noteworthy because Nicola Zingaretti, president of Lazio and head of one of the country's two main political parties, announced he was quarantined at home after testing positive for the virus despite feeling no symptoms. That afternoon, I conducted an interview with a top Italian virologist and asked if he thought Zingaretti was being overly cautious. The answer was a resounding no. After that, I mentioned that my sore throat had developed into a mild cough, and my temperature remained a little high. The virologist convinced me to get tested.

I found out the test for coronavirus is easy. A swab inside the mouth. A quick check of body temperature and blood pressure. I was out the door in 10 minutes. But the doctor who tested me told me to stay at home for two or three days until the results could be known.

I already work from home, so there wasn't a big change for me in terms of logistics. But psychologically, I felt trapped. I found myself jealously staring out the window at those passing by outside.

In the early hours of the following morning, Sunday, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced a lockdown that would include much of northern Italy, including Milan. That day, the number of active cases in the country surpassed 6,000 for the first time and the number vaulted to nearly 8,000 the following day. That is when Conte announced the lockdown would be extended to cover all of the more than 60 million people in Italy. Businesses had to close by 6 p.m. Movement between cities was limited.

【国际英语资讯:Diary in Rome: From quarantine to lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak】相关文章：

★ 三井住友将增持香港东亚银行股份

★ 《暮光4（下）》再度领跑北美周末票房榜

★ 韩国：朝鲜或准备发射卫星

★ 朝鲜公布火箭升空路径

★ [希腊神话]阿克里西俄斯

★ 人民币国际化的深层原因

★ 巴西利亚：过度城市规划的警示

★ 中兴再获国开行50亿美元融资额度

★ 英国高校校长反对移民限制

★ 美多家银行同意支付抵押贷款索赔