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Regional leaders are stepping up their efforts to control the outbreak. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, along with French President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders, have already discussed future actions and possible restrictions.
Authorities and officials face mounting challenges as they face restrictive measures that could slow the spread of the disease without the introduction of universal quarantine and other severe restrictions that disrupted economic activity in the second quarter of this year. Tight restrictions on movement remain taboo, with leaders focusing on specific measures and calling on a society already weary of the pandemic to adhere to hygiene and social distance rules.
“We have to smooth the curve, and there is no better way to do that than to follow the rules. If the number of people infected and treated in hospitals, especially in intensive care units, grows and we find ourselves in trouble again,” he explains the Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte.
The return of the coronavirus to Italy, the first epicenter of the virus in Europe, has so far been less painful than in neighboring France or Spain, but the outbreak has been expanding in recent days. This discrepancy can be explained by the intensity and duration of the restrictions imposed in Italy in the spring and the fact that schools were opened in the country relatively late in the fall.
Italy reported 7,332 new cases on Wednesday. It is more than 6,557 cases registered on March 21. During a maximum pandemic. The increase in cases reflects in part more rigorous testing. The daily test average is 152,196, which is almost 10 times the March daily average of 15,752.
However, with the number of hospital admissions rising again, especially in the southern regions, which were less affected by the previous outbreak, the Italian government last week reintroduced the mandatory use of outdoor masks. This week new restrictions have been added to nightlife, events and amateur sports.
On Wednesday, the number of patients in the intensive care unit rose to 539. A week ago, there were 337, but by the peak in early April, when that number surpassed four thousand, it was still a long way off.
In Europe, the number of cases began to grow again in late summer. Growth was further fueled by returning travelers and young partygoers. Local loved ones, work, and other social gatherings also provided an opportunity for the virus to spread further.
Almost 700,000 people registered in Europe last week. new cases. This is the biggest jump since the start of the pandemic. The total number of cases reached seven million. The World Health Organization reported this on Tuesday in a recent stocktaking exercise. Cases in the UK, France, Russia and Spain accounted for more than half of all new cases, according to the report.
Conte has repeatedly ruled out the possibility of a total shutdown of the country as the three-month shutdown in the spring has hit the already fragile Italian economy. Some experts question whether the closure will be avoidable if the pace of new cases is not slowed.
“The strict restrictions and closings on Christmas would be a natural change for current events. We need to focus on monitoring and tracking the virus, not human behavior, and stopping it, ”says Andrea Crisanti, a virologist at the University of Padua.
Italy is taking tougher measures
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Sunday a series of new measures to combat the growing incidence of the coronavirus, including restrictions on bars and restaurants and recommendations to work more from home.
Restaurants must specify the maximum number of customers they can serve, they must close before midnight and no more than six people can sit at a table. The bars will only be open until 6:00 p.m., except for establishments that can serve customers at the tables.
The training of amateur teams is also prohibited.
Schools will regulate the flow of students to make it easier to maintain physical distance.
Local festivals and fairs, which are widespread in Italy, will also be banned. This will have a major impact on the sector which, according to the Coldiretti farm workers union, has 34,000 workers. jobs and has an annual turnover of 900 million. euros.
These measures “should help us resist a new wave of infections that is severely affecting Italy and Europe,” Conte said, adding: “We cannot waste time.”
Italy was the first European country to be severely affected by the new coronavirus. More than 414 thousand people are registered in the country. cases of coronavirus infection, 36,543 people died from the disease.
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