We were told lockdown means lockdown except in truly exceptional circumstances. Not voluntary or under advisement or recommended or anything like that. Apparently word leaked in Lombardy last night and that created a massive crush on the trains as everyone tried to get out. Lockdowns don't work if word leaks like there or in Wuhan.

Does anyone know if they plan to close any part of the autostrada network at any point or if they intend to allow through travel with only fuel stops..? I have to get to Puglia in two weeks and it's looking increasingly unlikely

I imagine autostrade would be closed entering/exiting lockdown zones. What good is a lockdown zone if you let the autostrade through it, or you staff the Autogrill. I think you should look for flight options.

I'm chatting with my in-laws later today, just outside the exclusion zone, I'll ask and see what they think or have heard.

Right, they've said lockdown means lockdown, not sure how it's being implemented but the expectation is no roads in or out including autostrade.

Heard mentioned, until April at least

You certainly risk a public lynching if you leave a lockdown area and are then found to have a coronavirus infection elsewhere as has already happened twice this week.
Incidentally they have been forehead testing at Palermo airport at least since 18th Feb.
The apparently small number of cases so far in Southern Italy does seem strange considering the large numbers of people who go back and forth to Northern Italy and the large number of cases in Germany and France. It doesn't seem to be due to undertesting, Lets hope it is the warmer weather here.

It would be gret if it is the warmer weather....

I am in a lock-down area - province of Alessandria. Our town has only had two cases, both hospitalised, and no quarantines. We are due to visit the UK in mid April for a family wedding - everything crossed that the lock-down is lifted on 3rd April.

My best wishes to you and your family, it must be quite eerie to be in a locked down area. I hope things get much better for northern Italy, and Italy as a whole, and that you're able to make it to the family wedding in the UK.

Thank you! Not been out of the house for a few days - decorating - but going to walk into the town tomorrow (we are a 20 minute walk from the centre) so will see how things are. Hopefully our local bar will be open but will have to remember to stand one meter away from anyone.

It's good you have the decorating to keep you occupied, but a walk and a drink sounds excellent I know it sounds silly, but you don't have to stay a metre away from any people you're actually with do you, eg a husband and wife etc? Mind you, some husbands and wives might welcome that

It also was reported in an Austrian newspaper.

... and on the French News....

Austria from Tuesday will set up screening stations at borders Brenner, Sillian, Reschen Pass for incoming traffic from Italy. Rail travel will also be affected. Just saw this in the local news "Kurier" newspaper.

I read in a few news articles that there has been a mass exodus from the north of italy at about the same time as the lockdown was announced. Then there was a plea for italians to " be responsible".
I wonder what happens if some of the exiters wanted to return, how will that work out in a few weeks? How do we know how long the epidemic is going to last? So people may find themselves homeless or displaced as the fences change when the clusters change. So being displaced and coupled with being unable to work or get help from their families it is going to be expensive and difficult, especially if where they run to is a place where they get the virus and become ill.

Italy has seen better times.