I'm going in 8 weeks

Ah, but you can't really be counted as a tourist. Non vale!

Oh, I will be! Live in Australia, going to the UK to visit family but also to Italy (Sicily) and Spain, and then Turkey and Malaysia on the way home. As long as those countries' borders are still open, that is

The US has advised only essential travel to Italy. Your plane might be stuck on the ground.

I live in Perth so not flying via the US. The Oz government only says 'exercise a high degree of caution' in the northern areas that are locked down, which is 1 advice level down from 'essential travel only' and 2 down from 'do not travel'. My travel insurance doesn't kick in for cancellations unless the advice is at one of the top two levels and I ain't wasting all that money.

Edit: just checked and the advice here for Italy has been extended to 'exercise a high degree of caution' across northern Italy.

I'm going in 3 weeks but wont be stopping in North Italy except for fuel. I don't intend to change my travel plans and not go for any reason.
The way I see it is that they can only stop you going if the borders are closed and all flights are cancelled which would amount to a form of martial law and, via knock on effects, a probable complete crash of the wider economy throughout Europe and possibly even worldwide. I really don't see that happening as certain people in positions of power would stand to lose too much of their precious money from it.
I'll be going by road and sea and so far there is no word of the ferries being cancelled. When (if) I get there I'll update with my travel experience on the road if it's all still going on.
Call me a fool if you will but I can't help viewing all of this with some cynical skepticism as it all has more than a hint of hype, hysteria, and control freakery about it.

... only to do with money, so I would worry...

An economic crash was overdue anyway. The virus was just the push it needed. It will be a terrible year for Italy with so many small businesses dependent on tourism.

It would be a nightmare for us all in every country if it ever happened

Plenty of lurid headlines and 24 hour rolling media coverage purposely designed to freak people out - at least one industry's making money from it all (don't they always).

The only thing that really caused me concern was that we were staying with family in the UK, between flying in and out of Europe. They're a couple in their early 70s, one with a heart condition and the other with diabetes. If we were required to self-isolate on our returns to the UK, or if we'd unknowingly picked up the virus in any one of the airports or on any of the flights, then living in close quarters with them would put them at risk and we wouldn't do that. So we've organised independent accommodation in the UK.

Have a great trip!

We are Brits in NZ and have made plans to meet UK family in Rome a couple of months and then tour through Italy, Switzerland and Germany.
Today the NZ Govt announced they are encouraging those returning from northern Italy to self isolate, which I'm fine with, another fortnight off work is fine with me.

My concern is our ability to travel around Italy and Europe while we are there.
Is there a list of the places/towns on lock down ?
Are they easily avoidable / are the roads in and out actually closed. Dont want to find myself stumbling into one and unable to leave.

Just thought I'd try and get answers from those who are there in amongst it

From the foreign office website :

https://assets.publishing.service.go..._Italy_pdf.pdf

Re the above link and maps I just posted : I think it safe to assume that all roads to and from the listed towns in Italy will be closed and policed : they wouldn't be in lockdown otherwise, and as far as I understand it the lockdown and confinement of those towns is not on a voluntary basis with everyone free to come and go. They are confined. I'm monitoring the whole thing as closely as I can as I'm travelling in 3 weeks time and so far haven't heard of any other travel restrictions anywhere on my route through Holland, Germany, and Austria apart from some cancelled flights.

All Veneto schools closed for another week so kids won't be going back until March 9th

Other friends arrived for skiing on Saturday 15th and they were tested. That's how I knew to warn my friend travelling alone the following Thursday to expect a forehead test.