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At least a month of new restrictions have been imposed across Italy to combat the rise in coronavirus infections.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has insisted that people continue to wear masks outdoors, while cinemas, gyms, swimming pools have been closed and an early curfew has been established for bars, cafes and restaurants.
The new decree takes effect on Monday and lasts until November 24.
“Our goal is to protect health and the economy,” Conte said Sunday.
A day earlier, Italy surpassed the half-million mark in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases since February, when it became the first country to be affected in Europe.
On Sunday, Italy recorded 21,273 new confirmed cases and 128 deaths from the previous day. Italy has reported a total of 37,338 deaths from viruses.
Restaurant and bar owners had lobbied strongly against the new measures, which order them to close at 6 p.m. every day.
Most restaurants in Italy don’t even start serving dinner before 8pm, so the restriction seriously reduces revenue.
Cafes and restaurants were allowed to reopen in the last few months after the spring close for alfresco dining or limited indoor seating.
Conte pledged financial aid from his center-left government in November to the food sector, noting that cafes and restaurants can place orders at home and take out until midnight.
No more than four diners per restaurant table will be allowed before curfew, unless they are from the same family.
Under the new rules, the ski slopes are off limits to all skiers except competitors, and all spectators are prohibited from entering the stadiums during professional sports matches, including soccer /
Receptions after religious or civil ceremonies such as weddings are prohibited.
The decree continues to exempt children under the age of six and those who exercise outdoors from wearing masks.
“We all have to make little sacrifices,” Conte said.
“If we can’t go to the gym, we can exercise outside.”
Conte kept elementary and middle schools open, but said 75% of high school students must have remote classes.
Overcrowding in public transport, especially since schools reopened last month, has worried health authorities.
By early summer, after the blockade in Italy was practically lifted, the number of new virus cases had dropped to 200 a day.
“We did it then, we can do it now,” Conte said, warning that without any vaccine available “it’s not like we can all hug” during the holidays.
Several Italian regions and cities have recently imposed night curfews to reduce the number of young people who congregate outside, especially to drink.
On Friday, protesters in Naples protesting the curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. clashed with the police.
On Saturday night, far-right political groups and neo-fascists led a similar protest in Rome against the curfew.
Conte said he understands the frustration of citizens, whose incomes and way of life are heavily affected by the limitations of the pandemic.
“I would also feel anger towards the government,” he said, but noted that the authorities had determined that the protests had also been fueled by rioters.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, masks have been required on public transport in Italy and in closed places like supermarkets and other stores.
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