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MILAN: Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has given mayors the power to close public squares starting at 9pm to stop meetings, while he presented a new package of measures on Sunday (October 18) to try to stop a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases.
As daily cases in Italy hit a new record of 11,705 on Sunday, Conte said the situation had turned critical, but his government was determined to prevent a repeat of the lockdown imposed at the beginning of the crisis in March.
“The situation is critical. The government is there, but everyone must do their part,” he said at a press conference.
In addition to ordering gambling shops to close starting at 9 p.m. and stopping amateur sports competitions and local fairs, he said the government would consider closing gyms and swimming pools after more checks on security protocols this week. .
Italy was the first country in Europe to be hit hard by COVID-19 and has the second highest death toll in the region after Great Britain, with 36,543 deaths since the outbreak broke out in February, according to official figures.
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Authorities had largely brought contagion under control by the summer thanks to a rigid two-month nationwide lockdown, but as a second wave has emerged, they have ordered new measures, including mandatory wearing of masks in public and restrictions on gatherings. public and restaurants.
COVID-related deaths on Sunday rose to 69, compared with 47 the day before, the ministry said, far less than at the height of the pandemic in Italy in March and April, when daily deaths peaked at more. of 900.
The government will increase smart work in public service and is asking high schools to adopt staggered schedules to avoid congestion on public transportation.
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Restaurants and other food stores will be allowed to stay open until midnight, but will only be able to serve customers seated after 6 p.m.
Tighter measures have already been imposed in some of the worst-hit regions, including Campania around Naples, which has closed schools for two weeks.
As part of a new € 40 billion stimulus package that the government approved in its 2021 budget, Rome will establish a € 4 billion fund to compensate companies that have been hardest hit by coronavirus restrictions.
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