Nation Italy locks down ‘hot spot’ cities; WHO says coronavirus ‘not yet’ a pandemic despite rising death toll February 24, 2020February 24, 2020John Bacon, USA TODAYComments Off on Italy locks down ‘hot spot’ cities; WHO says coronavirus ‘not yet’ a pandemic despite rising death toll "Hot spot" cities and towns across northern Italy were in lockdown as authorities battled to contain a fast-spreading outbreak of the new coronavirus.