<span style="color: #222222;">Italy has placed up to 16 million people under quarantine as it battles to contain the spread of coronavirus. Anyone living in Lombardy and 14 other central and northern provinces will need special permission to travel. Milan and Venice are both affected. This was announced by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte today. He also announced the closure of schools, gyms, museums, nightclubs and other venues across the country.<br />''<br />'' The measures, the most radical taken outside China, will last until 3 April. Italy has seen the largest number of coronavirus cases in Europe and reported a steep rise in infections yesterday.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''The death toll in Italy has passed 230, with officials reporting more than 36 deaths in 24 hours. The number of confirmed cases jumped by more than 1,200 to 5,883 yesterday.</span><br />