Here's why the coronavirus is so bad in Italy, and how the lockdown could affect you

The latest area to be affected by the outbreak of Covid-19 - the coronavirus that's spreading across the world - is Italy.

Initially, quarantine-like restrictions were in place in northern regions, but now they have been extended to cover the entirety of the country.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte ordered that the people of Italy stay home in order to combat the spread of the virus in a television address.

Conte promised “massive shock therapy” to overcome the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Britons can still leave, but Mr Conte said that people living in Italy would only be permitted to travel for work or family emergencies, as the death toll in the country surged.

Here's everything you need to know:

What's the official travel advice?

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) currently "advise against all but essential travel to Italy, due to an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) and in line with various controls and restrictions imposed by the Italian authorities."

"Additional restrictions include the closure of museums, cultural institutions and the suspension of all public gatherings and sporting events.

"Religious ceremonies and funerals are suspended. Ski facilities are closed. Childcare facilities, schools and universities are closed until 3 April.

"Restaurants and bars remain open with restricted hours and reduced seating."

What if I need to leave Italy?

If you're already in Italy, the FCO reassure that "British nationals remain able to depart Italy without restriction."

"Airports remain open throughout Italy," they say, "however, airline schedules are subject to change and some flights are being cancelled. Travellers are advised to check flight details with airlines."

If you are returning from the country, then you will need to "stay indoors and avoid contact with other people," even if "you do not have symptoms."

British Airways has cancelled all fights to and from Italy after the country was put on lockdown over coronavirus.

A spokesperson for BA said: "In light of the Italian government’s announcement and the UK government’s official travel advice, we have contacted all customers who are due to travel today (10 March)."

How many cases are there in Italy?

At the current time of writing, Italian officials have reported 9,142 confirmed cases of the virus.

There have been 463 deaths, and 724 recoveries.

Italy now has the highest number of confirmed infections outside China.

It has overtaken South Korea, where the total number of cases is almost 7,400.

Why is it so bad there?

You may be wondering just why Italy is the current centre of the virus' spread.

An Italian health specialist has suggested that there may be a link between Italy's large elderly population and the fact that the country has been so badly affected by the spread of the virus.

The majority of people who have died from the coronavirus in Italy have been between 63 and 95 with underlying illnesses.

Twenty-two per cent of the Italian population is over 65.

Prof Massimo Galli, the director of infectious diseases at Sacco hospital in Milan, told The Guardian: “Italy is a country of old people. The elderly with previous pathologies are notoriously numerous here.

"I think this could explain why we are seeing more serious cases of coronavirus here, which I repeat, in the vast majority of cases start mildly and cause few problems, especially in young people and certainly in children.