08/16/2020 - 14:15
- Clarín.com
- World
Italy registered 479 new infections with coronavirus in the last 24 hours, a figure lower than in recent days, but much fewer detection tests have been carried out, according to data released this Sunday by the Ministry of Health.
Although the number of new cases fell - on Saturday there were 626 and the previous days more than 500 - the Italian government announced on Sunday the closure of discos and the obligation to wear masks at night in public places, to avoid a second wave of infections.
The Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, signed a decree that will enter into force on Monday and that makes the use of the mask mandatory between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in public places where groups are "formed." The decree also suspends the operation of open-air discos, since the closed nightclubs have not reopened so far.
The measure will be in force until at least September 7 and comes after several disagreements between the government and regional officials about the restrictions that should be applied in the nightlife sector, which employs some 50,000 people.
The cases
With the 479 new infections, there are 253,915 total cases since the start of the pandemic, as well as 35,396 deaths, with the last four on the last day.
The Veneto region, whose capital is Venice, has led the table of new infections for days, with 78 in the last 24 hours, followed by Lazio, with its capital in Rome, which has registered 68 and where infections are growing, partly due to the arrival of tourists and Italians at the main airports.
Fiumicino airport in Rome, packed with passengers. ANSA photo
Precisely, this Sunday the cabins to perform Covid tests on passengers arriving from "risk" countries began to operate at the Roman airports of Fiumicino and Ciampino.
The Italian Ministry of Health decreed last Wednesday the obligation to carry out the tests within 48 hours of entering the national territory to those who come from Spain, Greece, Croatia and Malta, if a test was not done within 72 hours prior to entry. to Italy.
But so far these areas had not been activated in the arrivals area of airports.
Some 2,000 arrivals from those four countries were scheduled for this Sunday and long lines were formed at Fiumicino airport, the main one in Rome, to undergo these tests.
Meanwhile, Italians who returned from vacation from these countries as well as foreigners who arrived between Thursday the 13th and today - before settling the cabins at the airports - had to go to take the test at one of the few points designated for it in Rome.
Long queues in Rome to get tested for coronavirus. EFE
Throughout the weekend, very long lines of up to eight hours were formed at the points with the "drive in" system installed in various hospitals to carry out these PCR tests.
This Sunday a meeting is held with the governors of the regions, called by the Minister of Regional Affairs, Francesco Boccia, to address this matter.
The meeting could end with the decision to immediately shut down nightclubs across Italy and anywhere dance nights are held, from ballrooms to beaches.
Until now, only the regions of Calabria and Basilicata have closed the nightclubs, while in other places the pressure from businessmen in the sector has kept them open since it was authorized with conditions after months of confinement.
Veneto and Emilia-Romagna already adopted restrictions this week, with the reduction to 50% of the authorized capacity and the obligation to wear masks even for dancing.
The Italian Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, assured that the data of the last days, "although they are inferior to those of other European countries, cannot stop worrying us".
The San Giovanni hospital in Rome taking tests for coronavirus. EFE
And for that, he asked "to raise the level of care . " "We cannot at all annul the sacrifices that the citizens made," he added.
And he appealed to all citizens, but particularly young people, to exercise "all possible caution."
"I understand that there is a desire to get out , to live after the months of confinement but if it infects parents or grandparents they run the risk of suffering real damage," said the minister.
Speranza made it clear that it is feared to jeopardize the reopening of schools for the next school year.
"We are working incessantly for the reopening of the schools, in mid-September, in person and with complete security, because it is a priority for the government," he said.
Source: EFE
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