The lockdown in northern Italy has led to confusion among locals.

Michele De Marsico, 55, described his concern about being able to return to his home in southern Italy.

"I was worried so I came here to the train station to check out the situation," he said, adding that "the system is reacting pretty well" to the outbreak.

"I would like to go to my mother's but it’s not possible. I live here but my mother lives in another region," Alice Baldisserri, 38, told CNN.

"There's chatter that they won’t let people return, so getting out at the moment seems risky to me," she added. "If they won’t let me come back it would be complicated.

"I work in a hotel but it's closed, so also the job is at risk," Baldisserri added. "It’s unknown when we will be able to reopen."