Military to enforce coronavirus lockdown in Italy

Soldiers are being brought in to enforce a lockdown in Italy as the country struggles to contain the exploding coronavirus outbreak within its borders.

The country is the hardest hit in Europe and has experienced the most coronavirus-related deaths out of any country in the world. The federal and local governments have been slammed with criticism over what some say are insufficient efforts to curb the spread of the illness. 

“(The request to use the army) has been accepted … and 114 soldiers will be on the ground throughout Lombardy … it is still too little, but it is positive,” Attilio Fontana, the president of the Lombardy region, said at a press conference Friday, according to a translation by CNN. “Unfortunately we are not seeing a change of trend in the numbers, which are rising.”

Soldiers have already been stationed in several Italian cities, but have been ordered simply to ensure general security rather than enforce government orders.

The news comes as Italy reported its largest one-day coronavirus death toll Friday, with 627 people dying in a 24-hour span.

More than 47,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus in Italy, and more than 4,000 have died.