The times of quarantines in Italy are changing.
And new measures, from the squeeze on infections in school to the compulsory vaccination for new categories of workers, could come into force in January.
Omicron spreads and the country takes cover against the risk of a blockage of activities due to the many people in isolation because they come into contact with the infected who currently number 600 thousand.
In the next few hours, the Scientific Technical Committee, to which the Government has asked for an opinion, will decide on the question, urged by the Regions and by some members of the majority such as the Undersecretary for Health, Andrea Costa, in the next few hours
. The governors, after meeting, will send a document to the CTS that contains a series of requests on the management of self-isolation: zeroing of the quarantine but obligation of Ffp2 and self-monitoring for people who have complete vaccination coverage, booster included, and a time of 5 days for those who have already received two doses. Changes that, they explain, are necessary in light of a disruption of the contact tracing system, 'skipped' in various territories.
There are several hypotheses in the field and a drop point could be to reduce the quarantine from seven to five days for those who are vaccinated with a third dose.
On the other hand, it is certain that the mandatory isolation period for the unvaccinated will remain for ten days. Also under consideration is the possible revision of the definition criteria of "close contact", that is, one that exposes to a "high risk", and of the definition of "low risk" contained in the circular of the ministry of last August. In that document it is specified that in the face of a "low risk" the quarantine can be revoked following a negative antigen or molecular test in the absence of symptoms. Another reflection could come to possible exceptions or reductions in quarantine days for those health workers who come into contact, outside their work environment, with positive people:a measure of this type would aim to avoid any shortages of health personnel due to compulsory isolation.
"Soon we will present a document to the Conference of the Regions to change the rules of quarantines and contact tracing as soon as possible. We cannot paralyze Italy". The president of the Liguria Region Giovanni
Toti
anticipates
this this morning via fb. "Trains canceled due to lack of personnel, 21 thousand Ligurians forced home. We cannot block the country with the quarantines of positive contacts. - said Toti - The covid has changed, most of the population is vaccinated, we must also review the measures to face it ".
Isolation is not the only topic on the table of the Government, which after the pronouncement of the scientists could ask for a political agreement for a possible ad hoc ordinance of the Ministry of Health. Among the issues to be addressed is also that of controlled prices for Ffp2 masks whose cost (mandatory on public transport vehicles, in cinemas, theaters and other places) could be around one euro. Another issue is the school front: a new squeeze could come precisely on the management of infections in the classroom. It is not excluded that, in the face of the increasing numbers of positives, the proposal (already advanced but then withdrawn) to provide for the quarantine for an entire class in the case of only one positive pupil (currently isolation for all starts with three infections).
There is also an increase in the number of people in favor of the mandatory vaccine also for other categories of workers, after health care workers, teachers and law enforcement. "The government still has time to introduce it", insists the president of Confindustria Carlo Bonomi. And the Minister for the Public Service Brunetta hopes for "a super Green pass for the whole world of work, public, private and autonomous". Now "we need to consider more restrictive measures such as the vaccination obligation" or "the hypothesis of limiting the movement of people who do not have protection, who risk putting pressure on the health system", adds the Minister for Labor, Andrea Orlando , which raises the alternative to the obligation or the no vax lockdown. On thislast aspect also the Tuscan governor Giani launches an appeal to the Government.
Yes to a reduction in the quarantine for the vaccinated, but with caution. This is the reflection that the consultant to Health Minister Roberto Speranza, Walter Ricciardi, makes with La Repubblica
. "The reduction of the quarantine for vaccinated with three doses is fine - he declares - but there must be a very precise analysis on what this means in terms of virus circulation". Omicron's playback speed is "impressive," Ricciardi notes. "This wave will be the most impressive from a quantitative point of view - he explains -, fortunately it will not have the same impact as the previous ones from a health point of view". Currently "we are in the mitigation phase - explains the consultant -, in which we need to lower the curve. In the meantime we have to vaccinate day and night". The third anti-Covid dose "is protective against Omicron and acts almost immediately after administration," adds. Public Hygiene expert believes "that the curve returns below 50 weekly cases per 100 thousand in February ".
