Italy has issued red alert warnings in 22 cities as the country braces itself for an intense heat wave. People are being urged to avoid direct exposure to sunlight during the hottest hours of the day and to stay hydrated. In the Lazio region, which includes the capital Rome, an emergency plan has been launched to tackle the effects of the heatwave on people’s health. It comes as the number of cases of emergency-care treatments for heat-related illnesses increases. This is particularly prominent in the older age groups and, since a large number of citizens in Italy are over 65 years old, it pos…