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Food, medicines sold at inflated prices while Italy is crippled by coronavirus crisis

Cutomers queue outside a supermarket of Milan on March 8, 2020 as Italy quarantines more than 10 million people around the financial capital Milan and the tourist mecca Venice for nearly a month to halt the spread of the new coronavirus. (AFP Photo)

Max Civili
Press TV, Rome

Italian President Sergio Mattarella has called on all citizens for unity in the fight against covid-19 on the anniversary of Italian unification.

However, the country's major consumers association warns that supermarkets, pharmacies and online retailers are selling their products at inflated prices, causing uproar among Italians.

Tuesday's appeal for unity in face of coronavirus pandemic made by the Italian President Sergio Mattarella - on the occasion of the 159th anniversary of the unification of the country - came at a time of unprecedented challenge for those living in Italy.

With the number of victims of the covid-19 standing at around 2,500 and that of the infected people at about 25,000 Italy has entered its second week into full lockdown with Italians showing the first signs of restlessness.

Meanwhile, the national consumers association Federconsumatori has warned that it has been receiving thousands of calls and messages from angry shoppers across Italy affirming prices of products such as infant milk, hand sanitizers and anti-flu drugs are being inflated by online retailers, supermarkets and pharmacies over the past days.

Local authorities have announced Lombardy, Italy's most-affected region by the coronavirus crisis, has almost ran out of beds in intensive care for coronavirus patients.

Italy's dramatic lockdown measures enforced until April 3 are likely to be extended beyond that date. Experts believe the country is still two weeks away from the peak in the infection's spread.


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