The Venice Carnival has been cut short as officials try to control the coronavirus outbreak in Italy, which has infected 152 and killed three people.
Officials in the Veneto region announced that the Venice Carnival would end on Sunday, two days earlier than scheduled as they try to address the coronavirus outbreak in Italy.
The government has imposed strict quarantine restrictions in two northern "hotspot" regions close to Milan and Venice. For the next two weeks, approximately 50,000 people cannot enter or leave several towns in Veneto and Lombardy without special permission.
Outside the quarantine zone, some businesses and schools have halted activities, while sporting events have been canceled, including top-flight football matches.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that "extraordinary measures" would be implemented to address the increasing number of coronavirus cases. The prime minister said the quarantine restrictions could last for weeks.
During the quarantine, police, and if necessary the armed forces, will have the authority to ensure the regulations are enforced.
According to Angelo Borrelli, the head of Italy's Civil Protection Department, 110 of the confirmed cases were in Lombardy, with 21 in Veneto with others in Emilia-Romagna and Lazio.
The third death was an infected elderly woman from the town of Crema suffering from cancer.
Regional president Luca Zaia announced the suspension of the Venice Carnival, along with other events to address the virus. Zaia said: "From this evening, we plan to stop carnival and all sporting activities until March 1."
He added: "As a precaution I think that the schools have to be closed in Milan. I will propose to the president of the region to enlarge the precaution to the entire metropolitan city area. It is just a precaution, we don't want to create panic."
Giorgio Armani's fashion show in Milan pushed through on Sunday but without any media or buyers present and was livestreamed on its website, Instagram and Facebook pages.
