Ferrari says it is “going ahead as programmed” and expects to be at full strength for the 2020 Formula 1 𝔍opener in Australia despite the curre𓂃nt lockdown as northern regions in Italy are put into quarantine amid the coronavirus spread.

The Italian government has passed through new laws to ban entry and exit from Lombard⭕y and 14 provinces until April 3 as part of efforts to fight the coronavirus spread.

Over 2,600 coronavirus cases have been reported in Italy over the past 48 hours, which pushes the nation’s total cases to 7,375 making it the second-w🥀orst hit country only behind China. 366 coronavirus deaths have been reꦺported in Italy including 169 new deaths this weekend.

The ban is imposed by fines on anyone caught entering or leaving the regions classified as ‘red zones’ including the rꦗegion of Lombardy plus 14 provinces which covers Ferrari’s Maranello base and Haas team members operating in the Dallara facility in Varano de Melegari, but does not reach AlphaTaur🍸i’s headquarters in Faenza.

While the majority of Ferrari’s personnel and team equipment is already arriving in Australia for next weekend’s opening round of the 2020 F1 season, the Italian team has released a statement to confirm it is following all regulations and is confident of getting all its sta൲ff to Melbourne.

“Following measures announced by the Italian Government last night, we are monitoring and evaluating the situation and are in close contact wiﷺth the relevant authorities and all organiꦕsations involved,” the Ferrari statement read.

“For Ferrari, compliance with the Government regulations represents the primary guarantee for ensurin♉g ꦺthe safety of its employees and their families which is our priority. Every single decision will be made with respect to this principle.

“Part of the 💜team and equipment have already arrived in Melbourne and the dep🗹artures for the remaining members of the team are going ahead as programmed unless we receive communications to the contrary.”

With AlphaTauri also expected to be unaffected by the new Itali🧸an travel restrictions, both teams may find it trickier to return after the opening rounds in Australia which is followed by a back-to-back race in Bahrain.

This morning Bahrain GP organisers confirmed its race would be held behind closed doors with spectators banned from attending in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19, becoming F1’s first-everℱ TV only event.

While F1 regulations𝓡 state a minimum of 16 cars are needed to start a world championship Grand Prix, Ross Brawn has already announced t๊he sport will not run a race if all 10 teams cannot compete due to travel bans.

Currently, entry and exit into the ‘red zones’ in Italy is only permitted for emergencies and for family or work reasons, although it remains unclea🎐r if F1 is deemed within the working remit. 16 million people in Italy h🍎ave been impacted by the travel ban, while many flights are still arriving and departing in the regions.