Tourists rush back home from virus-hit Italy

The rising number of patients affected by the coronavirus in Italy has become an alarming concern worldwide.

The only tourists outside Florence's majestic cathedral were a suitcase-laden couple rushing to leave Italy, where a nationwide virus shutdown is devastating an already fragile tourism industry.

Many holidaymakers had already made their escape when Italy started succumbing last month to COVID-19, which has killed 631 people there so far and infected over 10,000, mainly in the country's wealthy north.

 A rider is seen in an empty street in Rione Monti neighbourhood, virtually deserted.

It may be blue skies and sunshine from Sicily to the Alps, but the few remaining tourists now have two options: stay holed up in their hotels, relying on mini-bar snacks for dinner, or head home.

From the Colosseum to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the government has shuttered all museums and monuments, ordered restaurants and bars to close at 6pm, and told people to leave their homes only if strictly necessary until April 3.

'Eerily quiet'

A slew of airlines are suspending flights to Italy -- including Air France, Air Canada, Ryanair, Easyjet and British Airways -- while many countries have imposed travel restrictions.

Gone are the crowds at the Vatican's Saint Peter's Square, Rome's Spanish Steps, the Venice waterfront and Pompeii.

 People wearing protective masks walk in Malpensa airport near Milan.

Campo de' Fiori in Rome, where market traders shout all day and foreign students party all night, lies silent.

Stefano Ruggiero, 48, who owns a perfume shop near Florence's Ponte Vecchio bridge, said the business had been going since 1911 but "this is the quietest the street has ever been".

The carousel with its gold-gilded horses is still, the street musicians have disappeared. "It's eerily quiet," he said.

Italian hoteliers' association Federalberghi says bookings are down at least 80 percent nationwide, with a loss estimated at 2.5 billion euros.

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Sacrifices

The government has promised 7.5 billion euros ($8.5 billion) to help mitigate economic fallout from the crisis, with the economy ministry saying that figure may rise to 10 billion euros or more.

Crowded around television screens, Italians watched as Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told them they have to make big sacrifices to stop the virus in its tracks and prevent Italy's health system collapsing under the strain.