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AP PHOTOS: New virus curfew brings silence to Milan streets

  • A military vehicle drives past La Scala opera theater in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    A military vehicle drives past La Scala opera theater in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
  • A cleaner sweeps in an empty Vittorio Emanuele II arcarde, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    A cleaner sweeps in an empty Vittorio Emanuele II arcarde, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
  • An empty street in front of La Scala opera house is lit by a red traffic light in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    An empty street in front of La Scala opera house is lit by a red traffic light in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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  • Streets are empty in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    Streets are empty in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
  • An empty street is lit by street lights in Milan, northern Italy, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    An empty street is lit by street lights in Milan, northern Italy, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
  • A taxi drives along an empty street in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    A taxi drives along an empty street in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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  • A police car follows a tram streetcar running along an empty street by the La Scala theater, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    A police car follows a tram streetcar running along an empty street by the La Scala theater, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
  • A man who stepped off a tram streetcar, right, waits at a stop as the tram moves on, in Milan, northern Italy, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    A man who stepped off a tram streetcar, right, waits at a stop as the tram moves on, in Milan, northern Italy, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
  • An empty street is seen from a tram streetcar window, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    An empty street is seen from a tram streetcar window, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

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  • A streetcar driver is reflected in a mirror, top right, as he drives around Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    A streetcar driver is reflected in a mirror, top right, as he drives around Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
  • An empty tram street car runs in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    An empty tram street car runs in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
  • A street cleaning vehicle washes the square in front of the Duomo gothic cathedral, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    A street cleaning vehicle washes the square in front of the Duomo gothic cathedral, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

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  • The statue of Italian patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi is lit in the middle of an empty square, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    The statue of Italian patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi is lit in the middle of an empty square, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
  • The entrance of the Piccolo theater is shut, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    The entrance of the Piccolo theater is shut, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
  • The Vittorio Emanuele II arcarde is deserted, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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    Italy Milan Curfew Photo Gallery

    The Vittorio Emanuele II arcarde is deserted, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
A military vehicle drives past La Scala opera theater in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
A cleaner sweeps in an empty Vittorio Emanuele II arcarde, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
An empty street in front of La Scala opera house is lit by a red traffic light in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Streets are empty in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
An empty street is lit by street lights in Milan, northern Italy, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
A taxi drives along an empty street in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
A police car follows a tram streetcar running along an empty street by the La Scala theater, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
A man who stepped off a tram streetcar, right, waits at a stop as the tram moves on, in Milan, northern Italy, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
An empty street is seen from a tram streetcar window, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
A streetcar driver is reflected in a mirror, top right, as he drives around Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
An empty tram street car runs in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
A street cleaning vehicle washes the square in front of the Duomo gothic cathedral, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The statue of Italian patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi is lit in the middle of an empty square, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The entrance of the Piccolo theater is shut, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The Vittorio Emanuele II arcarde is deserted, in Milan, northern Italy, early Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Since the 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect last Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
LUCA BRUNO
Updated ·1-min read

MILAN, Italy (AP) — After 11 p.m., Milan is a ghost town. The piazzas are empty, the streets dark and quiet.

The silence is broken by the occasional rumble of a bus, streetcar or taxi, gliding through the night with few or no passengers.

Since an 11 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew took effect Thursday, people can only move around during those hours for reasons of work, health or necessity.

The curfew is among a raft of measures that authorities hope will stem the resurgence of COVID-19 in a part of the world that suffered severely early in the pandemic.

Milan, Italy's business hub and the capital of the wealthy Lombardy region, has seen the sharpest rise in infections as the coronavirus once again is spreading out of control.

Further restrictions are set to take effect Monday. The Italian government is trying to prevent a repeat of the crisis the country experienced in the spring, when more than 30,000 people died and the hospitals at one point had more than 4,000 COVID-19 patients in intensive care.

That number dwindled to double digits in the summer. In its latest update, the Health Ministry reported Saturday that more than 1,127 COVID-19 patients were in ICUs across Italy, including 213 in Lombardy. The nation’s confirmed death toll, the second-highest in Europe after Britain’s, rose to 37,210 with the deaths of another 151 people.

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Karl Ritter in Rome contributed to this report.