Italy faces new lockdown restrictions as a "new wave" of coronavirus cases grip the country

Measures such as the closure of shops and schools across the majority of Italy will occur on Monday, including areas like Rome and Milan.

It is thought that stricter restrictions will be implemented from the 3rd to the 5th of March, in a move to control the sharp rise of COVID-19 cases.

Italians are being asked to stay at home unless they need to leave for work or other essential reasons.

This comes as over 100,000 coronavirus deaths were recorded in the country.

This puts Italy's figures as the second-highest death toll recorded in Europe, just after the UK.

For the past six weeks, Italy's COVID-19 cases have increased to over 25,000 recorded infections per day.

It is thought that the country's health service and hospitals, as a result, have been overloaded.

The new rules, which would impact Italy's schools and economy, were deemed as "necessary" by Prime Minister Mario Draghi to avoid a worse situation with even harsher restrictions.

This comes as over a year has passed since Italy was one of the first few countries to impose a national lockdown.