Italian government ordered new partial containment due to increase in COVID-19 cases

The Italian government of Mario Draghi announced on Friday new and strict restrictions in much of the country, following a further increase in coronavirus infections that will severely limit travel between cities and force the closure of schools, restaurants, bars and museums.

The Ministry of Health has decided that confinement from March 15 to April 6 of regions considered “red” and “where the weekly number of infections exceeds 250 per 100,000 inhabitants”.

The measure will affect the most populated regions in the north of the peninsula, including Lazio, and the capital from Monday. Roma, and Lombardy, which surrounds Milan. “I hope this is the last sacrifice asked of our citizens,” said the President of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana.

In addition, for the second year in a row, Italy will be closed throughout the country during the Easter weekend, as reported by the government, highlighting the struggle to stop a new outbreak of COVID-19. Non-essential businesses to close nationwide April 3-5, and on these days Italians will only be able to leave their homes for reasons of work, health or emergency.

Italy, the first western country strongly affected by the pandemic, has seen infections increase by 10% this week compared to the previous one, and authorities have warned that the situation is deteriorating as new, highly contagious variants gain ground.

A year ago, the country was subjected to its first national blockade, which lasted for 10 weeks. At Christmas, a second blockade was imposed.

In recent months, the government has calibrated restrictions in its 20 regions according to a four-level color-coded system (white, yellow, orange and red) based on local infection levels that are examined weekly.

It was not immediately clear how the total Easter shutdown would affect parishioners in the Catholic country. However, it should be similar to last Christmas arrangements when people were allowed to visit churches in their neighborhood. A Vatican source said Pope Francis’ Holy Week activities before Easter will be held at the Holy See with a limited number of participants.

Unlike last year, this Friday’s decree, approved by Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s office, limits visits to friends and family during the Easter holidays, for example to see elderly relatives.

“The spread of the virus is accelerating due to the impact of the variants. We agree with the government’s decisions, ”Stefano Bonaccini, president of the Conference of Italian Regions, said in a statement after a meeting with ministers.

Italy has recorded more than 100,000 deaths from the disease since its first cases were discovered 13 months ago, the seventh highest number in the world.

Although the country launched its vaccination plan at the end of December, deliveries have slowed considerably and only 1.8 million people – out of a population of 60 million – had received two doses of the vaccine on Friday.

With information from AFP and Reuters

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