The Italian government has announced measures to help lock the country in while the country appears to be regaining control of the coronavirus pandemic.
Italian authorities have reported 260 deaths related to COVID-19[female[feminine Sunday, the lowest number of deaths per day since March 14, bringing the country’s total to 26,644.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced at a briefing on Sunday that manufacturing and construction firms could resume operations starting Monday, May 4, with retail reopening a fortnight later on May 18 may.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has announced plans to release some of the restrictions in the country
Speaking to reporters via video link, Mr. Conte said, “Starting May 4, the entire manufacturing sector will reopen, the entire building sector as well, and the entire wholesale sector linked to manufacturing and the sector. of the building.
“This is a very important passage, but we do it with a very articulate and well structured plan written in this new decree. We only allow this reopening if all companies strictly adhere to all security protocols. “
Travel will remain limited to specific regions and only for business or health reasons, but people will now be allowed to visit close relatives as long as they follow social distancing guidelines and wear a mask.
But those who have a fever above 37.5 ° C (99.5 ° F) will be forced to stay at home.
Parties, even among family members, will continue to be prohibited – but people will be allowed to exercise outdoors a little further from their homes in groups of no more than two adults and two children, and keeping a social distance of one meter.
Indoor sports are allowed, provided participants are at least two meters apart, and public parks will reopen although the number of people inside is controlled.
Sally Lockwood crosses a deserted Rome
The funeral will also be allowed in the country, which has experienced a high number of deaths over a short period, although it is limited to 15 of the deceased’s close relatives.
It is recommended that funerals be celebrated outside. Mass is always prohibited.
Conte said that on June 1, bars and restaurants could reopen, as well as hairdressers and beauticians.
But the Prime Minister warned: “If we do not respect the distance, if we do not respect the precautions, the epidemic curve can go up and turn out of control.
“We are going to see more and more people die and at this point, the damage to our economy would be irreversible. Let me say that if you love Italy, you keep your distance. “
The Italian Air Force flies over a deserted Rome
Analysis from Sky correspondent Sally Lockwood:
Italy’s third lockout deadline is only a week. This will put 60 million Italians in almost eight weeks of foreclosure. It is only now that they are hearing progressive measures that could offer a return to normalcy.
We have grown accustomed to the government relaxing the lockdowns incredibly slowly, detailing the conditions, and this time is no different.
So far, this has been an endless horizon of foreclosure and perhaps this has been the most difficult thing. The Italian government has had tough discussions this week to determine the best course of action for the so-called “phase 2” of this crisis.
But even after talks that took place throughout Thursday night, the announcement on Friday took until Sunday evening. This is a clear sign of a government taking a very cautious approach to lifting the lockdowns.
The Italian medical community in trauma
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio told Sky News that life cannot return to normal until a vaccine is found. He also told us that it was too early to predict whether travel would resume by summer.
Italians have no illusions that life will return to normal anytime soon. Throughout this crisis, I have yet to hear a single person call for the lifting of the lockdowns. The people here seem resigned, they seem to understand the gravity of what the country is facing.
The trauma that Italy has suffered in the past two months means that the government is lifting the lock extremely cautiously. And as hard as it is for the Italians, they have experienced this trauma and understand that it is a national necessity.
Few here claim normality, they just want something to aim. Tonight, they finally have a limited framework to work on.
