A widow has been stuck in her home for two days with her husband’s corpse after the pair were quarantined over his coronavirus diagnosis in Italy.

The woman, from Borghetto Santo Spirito in northwest Italy, was reportedly seen crying for help from her balcony after her husband died at around 2am on Monday.

The body of the man, who tested positive for coronavirus, is understood to have been left inside the apartment until it could be removed 48 hours after his death.

Italy has confirmed more than 10,000 cases of the virus, with 631 deaths reported across the nation as a result of COVID-19.

His widow has not been able to leave her home due to ‘quarantine restrictions’ as protocol dictates no one is allowed to approach the body, mayor Giancarlo Canepa told CNN.

‘Yes, it is true she is still there with the body and we won’t be able to remove it until Wednesday morning,’ he added on Tuesday. ‘Unfortunately, we have a security protocol we must follow.’

Mr Canepa added that the man had refused to be taken to hospital after he tested positive for COVID-19 ‘otherwise this wouldn’t have happened.’

A neighbour told IVG.IT that the widow had been seen crying for help from her balcony after the death of her husband.

‘Right now the most important thing is to think about this lady, alone with the body of her husband,’ they said.

‘No one can come close to help her nor comfort her. We hope this is quickly resolved. Our thoughts are with her and on what she is living through.’