KEY POINTS
  • Italy was the worst-affected country from the coronavirus outside Asia earlier Wednesday, temporarily overtaking Iran in terms of the number of deaths and infections from the virus. 
  • The death toll in Italy, Europe's worst-affected country, jumped to 79 on Tuesday from 52. As of Wednesday morning, there are 2,502 cases of the virus in Italy. 
An Italian Finance guard (Guardia di Finanza) conducts control and gives indications to drivers at a check-point at the entrance of the small town of Zorlesco, southeast of Milan, on February 24, 2020.

Italy's government on Wednesday announced it will temporarily close the nation's schools and universities due to the coronavirus outbreak.

State-run RAI radio and the ANSA and LaPresse news agencies reported earlier Wednesday that Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte had agreed on the closure during a Cabinet meeting. Education Minister Lucia Azzolina later said the school closures would be in effect from March 5 through March 15.