To contain the diffusion of the COVID-19 virus, the Italian Government as well as others have enforced on the population. By March 29, Italy reported 10,023 deaths (Italian Health Ministry, ). Now, COVID-19 infection is causing a global pandemic with a high number of deaths. There are several examples of Government imposed quarantine or travel bans, i.e., at least 18 US states quarantined people returning from West Africa during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. “Isolation,” in contrast, applies to the separation of persons who are known to be infected. In public health practice, “quarantine” refers to the separation of persons (or communities) who have been exposed to an infectious disease. Quarantine and isolation are two measures that can prevent, or at least minimize, the impact of infectious disease outbreaks. Following quarantine a global action supporting healthy diet and physical activity is mandatory to encourage people to return to good lifestyle. Quarantine carries some long-term effects on cardiovascular disease, mainly related to unhealthy lifestyle and anxiety. 2019 guidelines for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease indicate that “Adults should engage in at least 150 minute per week of accumulated moderate-intensity or 75 minute per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity (or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous activity) to reduce ASCVD risk.” During quarantine, strategies to further increase home-based physical activity and to follow a healthy diet should be implemented.

One important consequence of quarantine is a change in lifestyle: reduced physical activity and unhealthy diet.

To contain the diffusion of COVID-19 virus, Governments have enforced restrictions on outdoor activities or even collective quarantine on the population. COVID-19 is causing a global pandemic with a high number of deaths and infected people.

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