Coronavirus: amid controversies, Italy begins to reopen from Monday

ROMA – Next Sunday, April 25, is celebrated at Italy the day of liberation from nazi-fascism, very emblematic homeland date. But this year true liberation for Italians it will be the next day, Monday April 26. After months of closures and due to the pandemic, although with various limitations and protocols, on this day, Italians will be able to sit down for lunch or dinner in restaurants – Until now only open to take away, now only allowed outdoors – cinemas, museums, football and various other activities.

According to a new decree approved yesterday without the vote of the Right League, amid fighting and controversy, by the government of the prestigious economist and former president of the European Central Bank, Mario draghi, the reopening this will only happen in the so-called yellow areas, that is, those with the lowest risk of contagion.

In order to stop a third wave which has not yet concluded and which has brought the death toll from the coronavirus to 117,997, since March 15, Italy is in a semi-lockdown which involved new closures and only red and orange areas throughout the peninsula.

Although this has determined a reduction in the contagion curve which for experts is still not sufficient (13,844 new cases were recorded in 24 hours yesterday), under the pressure of the merchant revolts, as well as by the Matteo Salvini League, who is part of its executive, Draghi has finally decided to start easing restrictions as early as next Monday.

According to the new decree, which extends the state of emergency until July 31 and which intervenes in the middle of the vaccination campaign (which only reached a little over 10% of the population), From Monday April 26, Italians will once again be able to sit at a restaurant or bar table for lunch and dinner in the yellow areas, but only outdoors.

Only four people can be at a table (more, if they live together), who can only remove the chinstrap when the plate arrives. Although this reopening represented relief for one of the most punished categories by quarantines, that of gastronomists, also caused controversial because more than half of the country’s restaurants and cafes do not have outdoor spaces. In fact, many cities have already decided that restaurants that only have internal rooms can place certain tables in public spaces such as plazas.

The reopening of restaurants also for dining – albeit outdoors – has also sparked a virtual offensive from various regions and parties, among which Salvini League, to claim not only that you can also eat inside, but also the extension to 11 p.m. of the current curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m., in force since October of last year. But Draghi did not want to know anything, the curfew will last until July 22 until July 31 and the League, irritated, decided to abstain from voting on the new provision. It reflected a first break in the government of national unity that Draghi trained to withstand one of the worst crises in recent history and accusations to Salvini of “irresponsibility” and “weathercock” because last Friday he gave his consensus on the new measures.

According to the new decree, which served mainly to give a roadmap to a population psychologically and economically exhausted by the coronavirus, in low-risk areas (yellow) from June 1, the interior rooms of bars could be reopened, restaurants and cafes, but only until 6 p.m. After this hour everyone should be in the open air.

Also in the yellow zones, from May 15, shopping centers will also be able to reopen on weekends, where of course there will be places and a mask and social distancing measures will have to be used. On that day, the outdoor pools and spas will also be reopened.

Although last Friday, to give an important signal that education is a priority, Draghi announced that as early as Monday The high school was going to be 100% face-to-face again in the yellow and orange regions, eventually had to back down. Rectors of institutes, as leaders and unions, rebelled against such a move because in most cases crucial issues such as transportation – which were not promoted – such as classrooms , have not yet been resolved. Thus, from Monday, they will only go to school in person. 7 out of 10 high school students. It’s a strong disappointment for older students, who only have one month of classes to complete a school year marked by the hated “daddy” (distance learning).

But one consolation is that starting Monday, teens can get together to play five-a-side football, basketball and other contact sports, which are off limits for months. What will remain prohibited is to shower in the locker room after the match.

Another breath of fresh air will be the reopening of museums, cinemas, theaters and other cultural and concert venues from next Monday, still in the yellow zones. This color will become 13 of the 20 regions of Italy, although this will be known on Friday depending on the epidemiological situation. Of course, to go to museums, cinemas or theaters, you will have to book tickets, wear masks, keep distances and the capacity of the rooms will be limited.

Depending on the schedule, which could change depending on the contagion figures, from June 1 in the yellow areas there may also be audiences again in the fields, stadiums and other sporting events, although also limited and with strict protocols.

Another novelty is that, although from Monday it will be allowed to switch from a yellow region to those of the same color, to switch to a red or orange region for tourist reasons or to visit relatives, it will be necessary to have a “Green pass”, Safe driving that will also be used to attend events with more than 1000 people outside. How to obtain this green card, in anticipation of a certification of a similar European type which should arrive in June? In three ways: after a full vaccination; with a certificate attesting that the Covid disease has been overcome, or with a negative sample.

In this virtual dress rehearsal towards a return to normalcy which involves respecting the rules, visits to relatives and friends will remain limited: no more than one per day, but this time with four people instead of a maximum of two. The festivities will continue to be completely closed.

Conocé The Trust Project