With 79 total cases and 2 deaths as of the end of February 22, Italy has the highest number of cases and deaths in Europe, accounting for over 60% of all European cases, and becoming the country with most cases among all western (non Asian) nations.

As of the end of Feb.22, there were a total of:
- 54 cases in Lombardy region (including 1 death, with 18 in critical condition).
- 18 in Veneto region (including 1 death).
-   3 in Emilia Romagna region (all of which hospitalized from the Lumbardy hotspot).
-   3 in Rome (including 2 recoveries).
-   1 in Turin, Piedmont.

18 cases are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

EMERGENCY MEASURES: 11 towns and areas affected by the outbreak have been placed in lockdown: "In areas considered hotspots, neither entry or exit will be authorised without special permission," said Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, adding that businesses and schools in the areas would be closed.

"From the tests carried out, it emerged that the alleged zero patient did not develop antibodies. So he never had Coronavirus. The whole picture changes now" said Deputy Minister of Health, Pierpaolo Sileri.

2 new cases in Milan:
- a person from Mediglia (south of Milan) who was hospitalized in Melegnano and now has been transferred to the Sacco hospital.
- a 78-year-old patient at the San Raffaele Hospital since a week ago.

1 new case in Turin - had participated in a running race in Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure (Liguria region) with patient #1 of Codogno on February 2.

Hundreds waiting for test results. At least 10 towns, 50,000 people, initially placed in precautionary voluntary quarantine, later in lockdown (first in Europe). Schools (full list), workplaces, municipal and private offices, 3 train stations, coffee shops, and public places closed in the affected towns. Soccer games postponed. All universities in Lombardy and Veneto regions, all schools in Trentino region will be closed starting Monday. Friuli Venezia Giulia region declared a state of emergency.

40+ new cases today in Italy, including:
- 2 doctors, husband and wife (a pediatrician), in Pieve Porto Morone (Pavia, Lombardy).
- 5 new cases in Vò Euganeo (Padua, Veneto region), where 4,200 people are now going to be tested.
- 1 in Cremona (Lombardy region), a 38 year-old woman, friend of a health worker in Lodi.
- 1 in Sesto Cremonese (Lombardy region).
- 2 in Dolo and Mira (Veneto region).

 1 new death in Italy, a 77-year-old woman who was hospitalized a few days ago for pneumonia in the Lodi area (Lombardy region) and had contacts with the 38-year-old man.

The 38-year-old man in Codogno (Lodi), near Milan (patient #1) is in critical condition (mechanically ventilated in intensive care, according to his parents) and at least 14 contacts are in serious condition, according to doctors, and include:
- 5 health workers and doctors.
- 3 patients at the Codogno hospital.
- 3 elderly (in the 70s and 80s) clients of a bar run by the father of the man's friend.

"People must be distantiated right now, because this is a virus that is transmitted very effectively at close range" said the director of the infectious diseases department of the Higher Institute of Health, Gianni Rezza.