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Thousands of protesters angered by new restrictions announced to control the spread of Covid-19 in Italy have clashed with police as European governments toughen up their responses to the pandemic.
Following weekend demonstrations that resulted in violence, crowds of several hundred to several thousand took to the streets again last night.
In Milan, several trams were vandalized and containers set on fire, while riot police fired tear gas at groups of youths, throwing glass bottles and other projectiles, with similar scenes in neighboring Turin and south Naples.
The scenes of unrest came after Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte ordered the closure of restaurants and bars starting at 6 p.m., while theaters, cinemas and gyms had to close for a month, much to the chagrin of businessmen, opposition politicians and even some scientists.
The violence in Italy, which imposed one of the harshest blocks in the first wave of infections in March and April, is likely to have repercussions in Europe, where governments are weighing the need for tougher measures against their fatigue and frustration. Many.
“There is no doubt that the European region is an epicenter of disease at the moment,” said World Health Organization emergency chief Michael Ryan.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical expert on the pandemic, also expressed concern about the situation in Europe and, in particular, about the increase in hospitalizations and the rapid filling of intensive care units.
“In many cities we are seeing beds filling up too quickly, and we see a lot of projections saying that ICU beds will reach full capacity in the coming days and weeks,” he said.
The Czech Republic said it would impose a night curfew, similar to measures already introduced in France and Spain, Slovenia imposed border closures, while Norway, with one of the lowest infection rates in Europe, tightened its rules on social gatherings. .
France also faces tougher measures with President Emmanuel Macron set to gather his top ministers today to review efforts to reduce the outbreak after the number of daily cases surpassed 50,000 for the first time over the weekend.
Some options being considered were reportedly including weekend closures in high infection areas, an earlier night curfew, or even another blanket stay-at-home order across the country.
Covid-19 has claimed the lives of 1.1 million people and infected more than 43 million worldwide.
‘Turning the corner’ on Covid – Trump
The economic consequences remain dire, with tens of millions of people losing jobs, economies collapsing around the world, and politicians scrambling to find answers.
US President Donald Trump, with his re-election campaign in full swing, was once again disheartened after one of his top officials suggested his administration would not control the virus, comments that challenger Joe Biden took advantage of.
“We are just around the corner,” Trump said, denying he was giving up the fight against the virus, even as his country beat its own record for new daily cases over the weekend.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that “giving up control” of the pandemic was “dangerous.”
‘Engaged’ cinema in Italy, film directors say
In Italy, Prime Minister Conte told citizens that he hoped the new restrictions “will allow us to be more relaxed for Christmas,” but warned that “hugs and parties” would be out of the question.
Newspapers mocked the prime minister, with the cover of Corriere della Sera featuring a cartoon of Conte saying to Santa Claus: “Stop! We have brought a decree to save you!”
Italy’s leading film directors wrote an open letter warning that by closing cinemas the measures could “endanger the future of an entire industry,” and Italian director Riccardo Muti said the measure would harm people’s health.
Far-right opposition leader Matteo Salvini said he was preparing a legal challenge, but WHO adviser in Rome Walter Ricciardi said the new rules may “not be enough” to stop the virus.
Street violence in Italy was mirrored in Nigeria, where crowds looted warehouses in the capital Abuja and seized supplies destined for distribution during coronavirus shutdowns.
“We’re hungry, you understand?” Said a man. “We are not stealing, it is our food and our right.”
Australia provided a small dose of good news yesterday, as Melbourne’s second city reported no daily cases and prepared to emerge from one of the most severe lockdowns in the world.
City residents have been under stay-at-home orders for nearly four months, but with new cases dropping dramatically, state politicians have been under pressure to lift the measures.
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