Hi xioni
Wrt Italy, I think the biggest handicap they had wrt border closures was that it was pretty well impossible for them to do this themselves because, as I understand it, they are part of the EU's Schengen zone. Had the Italians been in a position where they could have closed all land borders with the immediate neighbours early on, things might not have deteriorated in that country to the extent that they have done.
For all I have been so critical of HMG here, I don't think the response by many across Europe in terms of getting to grips with this thing early on was much if any better. We are where we all are now though, and god knows how we go from here.
Originally Posted by: David M Porter