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Italians slowly returned to popular water wells as the country’s coronavirus blockade eased slightly, despite warnings that infection rates may increase again.
Young people without masks gathered to drink together in Campo de ‘Fiori square in the historic center of Rome, where the bars were making special offers on take-away drinks.
While some enjoyed a cold spritz with friends, others opted to bike, run, or stroll along the banks of the Tiber River.
The banks of the canal in Milan, a famous nightlife spot, were under strict police control after the city’s mayor said groups of people had violated social distancing rules.
On Thursday photographs of groups of people sitting and drinking together without masks appeared in the popular Navigli area.
Mayor Giuseppe Sala said the area would be closed if people continued to break the rules.
He called the images “embarrassing,” adding that people need to be aware of the severity of the new virus, after a two-month shutdown during which the city had seen 42% of the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus from the Province.
The mayor said irresponsible behavior was making it harder for other workers to restart their jobs. Stores will reopen in Italy on May 18 and table service in restaurants and bars will restart on June 1.
Italy’s national health institute chief Silvio Brusaferro said he supported Italy’s gradual reopening as the infection curve flattens out, but added that going out for a drink without a mask risked more infections.
According to Johns Hopkins University, Italy has registered more than 217,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 30,200 deaths.
The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more serious illness or death.
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