Italy confirms first death from coronavirus

Italy confirmed its first death from the coronavirus, hours after 10 towns were locked down following a flurry of new cases, local media reported Saturday.

A 78-year-old man died Friday evening, according to the ANSA news agency which cited Veneto regional president Luca Zaia.

The retiree received treatment at the hospital for 10 days, Zaia added. He was one of two people in the northern region to have been infected.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told reporters Friday after a EU summit in Brussels that his country is prepared to manage the outbreak.

“People don’t need to be worried,” Conte said, adding that everything is under control.

Health Minister Roberto Speranza said Italy was studying a new regulation to restrict the outbreak in the northern Veneta region.

Earlier, Speranza said the number diagnosed with the virus, also known as COVID-19, rose to 14.