Italian mayors will be able to close the busiest areas of their cities, such as party ones, in case of crowds to curb contagions, lately fired, announced this Sunday (18.10.2020) at press conference the prime minister, Giuseppe Conte.
The governers may take this measure from 21.00 premises (19.00 GMT) if they detect that in a given area an agglomeration of people is generated, as in the night party areas, according to the last decree adopted on Sunday.
“We cannot waste time to avoid further general confinement, the country cannot afford it,” Conte justified in illustrating these measures, focused especially on regulating life in bars, restaurants, gymnasiums and schools, among other spaces.
“Mayors have the closure of the public, after 21.00, streets and squares in cities where agglomerations are created”, it is read in the text, although those who come to their “legitimately open” shops or their homes will be allowed to enter the area.
The new decree, valid until 13 November, comes when Italy registers an average of about 9,000 infections daily from last week after a quiet summer and today 11,705 new positives were detected, the highest pandemic figure in the country, although many more tests are now being done than at first.
The Government agreed on these measures with representatives of the regions, who opposed proposals that had sounded in recent days such as the closure of gymnasiums and swimming pools, which had not finally been carried out.
However, Conte has given these sports centres a period of one week to respect health protocols: “If not, I move it forward, next week we will be forced to close them,” the prime minister said.
Hit the hospitality
This Sunday’s decree provides amendments to another decree adopted on October 13th requiring restaurants and bars to close before midnight, which is still in force, and at 9:00 a.m. in case they don’t have table service.
However, from now on, restaurants, ice cream parlors, bars, pubs or bars that do not allow their clientele to sit must close at 18.00 (16.00 GMT), although home delivery will still be allowed. In the restaurants, a maximum of six people can only sit at the same table. Game, betting and bingo rooms can only be opened until nine o’clock at night.
As for the education system, lessons in primary schools will remain face-to-face, considering them “a fundamental asset”, but since high school “more flexible methods will be favored” and turn-based entries will be organized.
The prime minister acknowledged that he understood the sacrifices of the employers affected by this measure but promised aid.
Italy will remain in a state of emergency until 31 January next year.
