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The Italian government has decided to tighten anti-CoV measures over the Christmas holidays. In view of the rapidly rising CoV figures, the government is imposing a renewed hard lockdown for the entire country. This will apply from Dec. 21 to Jan. 6, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced last night. According to him, all stores and restaurants will remain closed, travel between different regions will be prohibited, and people will only be allowed to leave their own homes to a limited extent. The whole of Italy will become a red zone on holidays and weekends from December 24 to January 6.
Italians are only allowed to receive up to two people in their homes during the Christmas holidays who are not living with family. Minors up to age 14 and people with disabilities are not counted, Conte said. “We fear that the number of contagions could increase again during the Christmas holidays,” Conte warned.
Waiting for the holidays to end
On weekdays during the period between Dec. 24 and Jan. 6, establishments will remain closed. However, stores are open until 9 p.m. Freedom of travel is provided within a 30-kilometer radius for residents of municipalities under 5,000 inhabitants.
The government decided on additional support measures amounting to 645 million euros for pub owners who have to close during the Christmas holidays. Further funding will be loosened in early 2021. After the holidays end, all of Italy could be declared a yellow zone again, the head of government said.
Vaccination campaign on Dec. 27
The Italian government had already issued a decree in early December that, among other things, imposed strict travel restrictions over the Christmas holidays from Dec. 21 to Jan. 6. It is expected that three million Italians will travel over the upcoming weekend to celebrate with relatives in other regions before strict travel restrictions take effect. 70,000 security personnel are expected to check that the measures are being observed.
After several weeks of decline, the replacement value in Italy has risen again. It now stands at 0.86, health authorities announced yesterday. Italy, along with other EU countries, will start a large-scale vaccination campaign on Dec. 27.
hp, Source:ORF.at/agencies/picture: pixabay.com
