Italy called in the military to enforce the lockdown on Friday as officials announced 627 new deaths in 24 hours, the largest single-day toll in any country since the coronavirus outbreak began. Desperate scenes have unfolded in the north of the country, particularly the hardhit Lombardy region where infections first exploded last month, as hospitals struggle to treat thousands of cases, CNN reported.

Italy calls in military to enforce lockdown as 627 people die in one day

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Chinese medical experts helping Italy deal with the crisis have said restrictions imposed in the Lombardy region are "not strict enough" to contain the spread.