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In Naples there were violent protests against the curfews that were imposed there due to the rapid increase in the number of infections. Prime Minister Conte wants to avoid a second blockade, but he has a plan B.
By Jörg Seisselberg, ARD-Studio Rome
It was a restless night in Naples. Hundreds of people took to the streets in the city center to protest the curfew imposed by regional president Vincenzo De Luca due to the sharp increase in the number of Covid-19 infections. In front of the regional government headquarters there were clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers, fireworks were detonated, at least one police car was stained with paint.
In the afternoon, De Luca appealed with pathetic words to the inhabitants of the Campania region to adhere to the decided measures and stay at home from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
“It is obvious that we are facing a moment that is serious. I ask our citizens one thing: from today there will be no more differences, political, religious, economic or ideological. that they do something together to defend the lives of their own children and their own families. “
15 percent of all corona positive tests
Campania was hardly affected by the first wave of pandemics in the spring and now has the second highest infection rate in Italy. Almost 15 percent of all corona tests in the region are currently positive. The increase in and around Naples is of particular concern as the region is lagging behind in the provision of intensive care beds.
A total of 19,000 new cases of infection were reported in Italy yesterday. As in the spring, the Lombardy region with the metropolis of Milan is the most affected. Also there, as in Campania, there is currently a curfew. Passersby in Milan, however, were calm and understanding.
“Usually I’m already in bed at eleven one way or another. So nothing will change much for me. Let’s wait and see if more is needed.”
“When the intensive care units are filled again, even more stringent measures will be necessary.”
Curfew against rapid increase
Since the beds of the Lombardy intensive care units are also being filled, yesterday the Covid-19 emergency hospital was reactivated, which was installed in the spring at the Milan fairgrounds. The curfew, says regional president Attilio Fontana, should help curb the rapid increase in the number of infections.
“I am concerned and attentive. It is a movie that we have seen before. We have to prevent it from happening again and control it so that the situation does not become too serious.”
A regional curfew has also been enforced in Lazio since last night. Starting at 9 p.m., the capital Rome also closed places that are popular meeting places for young people, such as Campo de ‘Fiori.
Conte does not want a second national blockade
While the country’s largest regions tighten their measures, the national government continues to hold back. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte emphasized once again that after the tough measures in the spring, he did not want a second national shutdown in Italy. The reason for being of the head of government.
“The country cannot afford a second setback that would seriously endanger the entire economic fabric.”
Despite his public calls to avoid a complete blockade of Italy again, the head of government appears to have a plan B in his pocket. The newspaper “Corriere della Sera” reports on government agreements, according to which a curfew must be imposed for the entire country from 9:00 pm if the contagion numbers do not drop in six days.
According to this, national measures could be tightened in advance if a capacity utilization of 30 per cent of intensive care beds is reached. At the moment there are only a few bottlenecks, in general Italy, unlike the spring, still has the situation in the intensive care units under control.
