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The rush for the last shopping weekend before the Christmas red light district brought gatherings to all Italian cities, the same scenes that had spooked the experts and the government during the previous weekend, causing a shutdown with several exceptions. Infections and Covid victims remain in worrying numbers, but a river of people poured into via del Corso in Rome, then partially closed as Piazza Navona, as at the Vomero in Naples, just days after entering. validity of the new measures of the holiday decree. The exodus that was feared in the stations and on the roads, however, did not occur, with the extraordinary controls already in place. But the critical day could be next Monday, December 21, when it will no longer be possible to move between regions but it will always be allowed to return to residence or home. The Italians in sight of the confinement, between red and orange, which will last until the Befana, crowded into the streets for the purchases that were distributed during normal hours for several days.
And I am 16,308 positive coronavirus swab results in 24 hours, according to data from the Ministry of Health. The victims are 553. On Friday the positives were 17,992, the deaths 674. In total, the cases since the beginning of the epidemic in Italy are 1,938,083, the victims 68,447. The currently positive ones are 620,166 (-7,632), the recovered and discharged 1,249,470 (+23,384). There are 592,018 people in home isolation (-7,192).
There are 176,185 coronavirus smears made in 24 hours in Italy, a slight decrease compared to Friday, when there were 179,800. The positivity rate (proportion of positive tests, including repeat and control tests) is 9.2%, compared to 10% on Friday (-0.8%).
Patients in intensive care for Covid in Italy have been reduced by 35 units, in the daily balance between entries and exits. The number of people hospitalized in ordinary wards, on the other hand, decreased by 405 units in 24 hours.
Crowd in the center of Rome for Christmas shopping. The momentary closure of pedestrian traffic on via del Corso in Largo Goldoni has been activated to allow people to exit. Local police patrols guarding the Lungotevere bridges to facilitate movement as much as possible.
Many people have also invaded the streets of the historic center of Bologna for the last Saturday of shopping, in view of the Christmas restrictions that, from Thursday, will return Italy to the red zone. In via Indipendenza, via Rizzoli, via Farini, the streets around piazza Maggiore, many people took the opportunity to buy gifts, although probably less than it would have been on a Saturday before Christmas. However, the streets were crowded, many queues formed in front of the busiest shops and, until 6 in the afternoon, the bars were filled with customers who took advantage of one of the last occasions to have an aperitif or a coffee at the table. . Contrary to what was announced, no particular measures were taken to accommodate people, such as barriers or filters in the busiest areas. In the afternoon, access was free almost everywhere except for customer limitations in individual stores. The controls were present, but very discreet: the traffic police, the carabinieri and the police, above all, tried to dissuade people from gathering and made sure that everyone was wearing a mask correctly.
In view of the pre-Christmas red light zone exit, Milanese (and not only) flocked to the center to buy gifts and make a last toast with friends. There are many groups of young people in the Corso Como area and also in Piazza Duomo, but also couples and families full of packages. Several restaurants also fill up at lunchtime with groups of peers or schoolmates and the outdoor tables of the famous bars for a snack are also packed. Queues have formed in front of many shops: from La Rinascente, in front of the Christmas windows, which for several days have set up barriers to differentiate entrances and exits; but also at Gucci and Vuitton at the Galleria, where the local police regulate entrances. There were also brief waits in the metro, where to respect the quota of 50% of the capacity, the turnstiles at the docks were closed (a few minutes) 150 times until 4:00 p.m.
It was a morning of chaos that was experienced in the mountainous district of Vomero., which has always been a favorite shopping spot for tens of thousands of Neapolitans. Blocked roads, blasting horns, drivers desperate for a place to park. “A true pre-Christmas delusion,” comments an elderly resident, “unheard of in a pandemic period.” But not only cars have packed the streets of the neighborhood. The Scarlatti-Giordano pedestrian zone was invaded by a real human river. Everyone on the street for the last shopping before the Christmas holidays before heading back to the red light district on December 24. The shopping streets were literally robbed, as well as the Antignano market and the Via De Bustis market, where maintaining physical distance was practically impossible. Line up in the outdoor stores, but also in the outdoor bars to enjoy a coffee, even if it’s to go, with friends and family.
