Italy’s damming coronavirus warning to EU – ‘Brussels must act’ or we’ll be devastated

Italy has now reported 10,023 deaths at the time of writing and has now become the worst-hit country in the world. Speaking on Saturday, Mr Conte has warned the EU not to leave Italy and Eurozone devastated from the pandemic which has crippled world economies.  The EU has activated its emergency budget fund in order to help Italy against the virus but today Mr Conte has insisted Europe could be destroyed by the virus. 

He told Italian newspaper, Il Sole 24 Ore: “Not doing anything would leave to our children the burden of a destroyed economy. 

“We must avoid making such tragic choices in Europe.

“If Europe does not show itself to be up to this task, the whole European project risks losing its raison d’être in the eyes of our own citizens. 

“We are living a crisis that has caused a great number of victims among our fellow citizens and is causing a major economic recession.

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“I represent a country that is suffering greatly.

“I cannot afford to play for time.

“In Italy, but also in other member states, we have no choice but to take tragic decisions.”

Italy was the first western country to introduce severe restrictions on movement to help contain the outbreak. 

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Mr Conte has also called for recovery bonds to be created. 

The bonds would increase debt across the continent but allow EU countries to use the additional money to help combat the COVID-19 outbreak. 

In order to help with the crisis, Italy had received medical support from Russia. 

China had also sent a team of doctors while Cuban doctors had also arrived in the country on Sunday. 

While Italy has called for economic aid to be put in place, Donald Trump has admitted certain areas of the US may have to be quarantined. 

The President, launched the US navy aid ship, the Comfort today which will be sent to help the aid effort in New York. 

New York has become the epicentre of the crisis in the US and has half of the total cases across the country. 

Mr Trump said: “We’d like to see [it] quarantined because it’s a hotspot.

“I’m thinking about that”