On 31 January, the first two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in
Rome. A Chinese couple, originally from Wuhan, who had arrived in Italy on 23 January via
Milan Malpensa Airport, travelled from the airport to
Verona, then to Parma, arriving in Rome on 28 January. The next afternoon, they developed a cough, and by evening the man had a fever; the couple were taken to
Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases where they tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were hospitalised.
[23][2] On 31 January, the Italian government suspended all flights to and from China and declared a state of emergency with the duration of six months. Prime Minister
Giuseppe Conte said Italy was the first EU country to take this kind of precautionary measure.
[24] The government also introduced thermal scanners and temperature checks on international passengers arriving at Italian airports.
[21]
On 6 February, an Italian repatriated from Wuhan tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in Italy to three.
[25]
On 22 February, the repatriated Italian recovered and was discharged from the hospital.
[26] On 22 and 26 February, the two previously infected Chinese tourists tested negative for COVID-19 at Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute in Rome.
[27]