Today’s coronavirus bulletin, news and facts – December 20

The main news in Italy and in the world about the Covid-19 pandemic.

13-30 – United Kingdom, after Holland and Belgium, Italy also blocks flights

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Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium have suspended passenger flights from the United Kingdom, and Germany and France are preparing to do the same, due to fears related to the new variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, the coronavirus responsible for Covid-19 . “The United Kingdom has raised the alarm about a new form of Covid that would be the result of a mutation of the virus. As a government we have a duty to protect Italians, for this reason, after having notified the British government, with the Ministry of Health we are about to sign the measure to suspend flights with Great Britain, “announced Chancellor Luigi di Maio.

12.50 pm – 483 cases in Tuscany in the last 24 hours

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“The new positive cases registered in the last 24 hours in Tuscany are 483 out of 10,922 molecular swabs and 2,013 rapid tests performed”. This was announced on Facebook by the president of Tuscany Eugenio Giani

12.15 – Veneto, 3,869 new infections and 52 deaths

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There are 3,869 new cases of positivity for the coronavirus registered in Veneto in the last 24 hours and 52 deaths. The newsletter of the Region informs it. The total number of infected since the beginning of the epidemic amounts to 216,923 and the number of deaths to 5,434. The number of hospitals is increasing. 2,880 Covid patients (+36) are hospitalized in non-critical wards, 370 (+1) in intensive care. The current positives in the region are 100,089 (+ 2,273).

12.10 pm – Alto Adige, 316 new cases, low deaths

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In South Tyrol, where from Thursday, December 24 to Wednesday, January 6, shops and all restaurant service will probably be closed (the ordinance is scheduled for tomorrow), 316 new cases of the 2,884 swabs examined were reported today. New daily deaths decreased, 3, for a total number of 690.

12.05 – Germany, 22,771 new cases, 409 deaths

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Germany has registered 22,771 new cases of coronavirus and 409 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute. The total number of infections since the beginning of the pandemic amounts to 1,508,518 and the death toll to 26,171.

12.05 – the Pope: “Instead of complaining we do it for those who have less”

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“In this difficult time, instead of complaining about what the pandemic prevents us from doing, we do something for those who have the least: not one more gift for ourselves and our friends, but for a needy one that nobody thinks about! Another piece of advice: for Jesus to be born in us, we go to confession, because only in this way will our hearts be similar to that of Mary: free from evil, welcoming, ready to welcome God ”. So Pope Francis during the Angelus.

11 am – Swimming, Di Liddo positive, Pilato quarantined

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After the Winter Absolutes in Riccione, the Apulian Elena Di Liddo, fourth in the World Championship and European medalist in the 100 butterfly, turned out to have coronavirus and will not be able to compete today in Rome for Aniene in the Bremen Cup. On the trip to Rome, Benedetta Pilato was also with her, who will therefore have to return home to Taranto in quarantine and therefore will not be able to conclude this cycle of end-of-year competitions. Di Liddo has been in contact with several swimmers: in the next few days it will be known if there have been others infected. Before the races, all 400 swimmers were subjected to quick smears.

10.50 – WHO: “In close contact with the UK for a new variant”

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“We are in close contact with the UK authorities on the new variant of the Covid-19 virus. They will continue to share information and results of their ongoing analyzes and studies. We will update Member States and the public as we learn more about the characteristics of this variant of the virus and its implications “. The World Health Organization (WHO) writes on Twitter about the new variant of the coronavirus identified in the United Kingdom.

10.30 – Spallanzani, 192 positive hospitalized patients

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“At this time, 192 patients who are positive for the Sars-CoV-2 research swab are admitted to our institute.” This was reported by the bulletin of the Inmi Spallanzani of Rome, adding that “33 patients are hospitalized in Intensive Care. The patients discharged and transferred to their homes or other local structures, are 1562 this morning.”

10.15 -, alarm for English variant

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Alarm for a new variant of Covid-19, detected for the first time in England and now in a case also in the Netherlands. The Netherlands immediately blocked all flights arriving from the UK. British authorities have informed the WHO that the newly tracked coronavirus variant may circulate faster. London in hard lock from today.

10 am – 76 million infections

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The number of registered infections in the world exceeds 76 million