New cases make Italian government extend emergency measures against Covid
Italy is preparing to extend its state of emergency to help control the Covid-19 crisis, a senior government official said, according to Reuters.
"I believe the government will have to request a new extension“, Italy’s Undersecretary of Health, Sandra Zampa, told state broadcaster RAI. “The State of Emergency allows the government to eliminate bureaucracy quickly if necessary,” she added.
The State of Emergency regime, which expires in mid-October, grants greater powers to the regional and central government, making it easier bypass bureaucracy in much of decision-making in Italy.
Thanks to one of the strictest lockdowns in the world, Italy managed to control the contagion until the summer. However, cases have increased in the last month, with an average of 1.500 new infections reported per day in the last week.
Even so, these numbers are far below those seen in other regions of Europe, such as France and Spain, which are recording an average of 10 new cases per day each.
Strong and effective response
Earlier this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a video in which it praised Italy's “strong and effective response” to the pandemic. Many Italians are still acting very carefully, regularly wearing masks outdoors, although it is not mandatory.
Scientists say the next three weeks will be crucial to assess the circulation of the virus and determine whether Italy will be spared a major second wave. “If we survive the next three weeks, we will probably make it,” said Andrea Crisanti, professor of microbiology at the University of Padua, cited by Reuters.
The State of Emergency in Italy was last extended at the end of July, despite protests from opposition parties, who accused Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte of trying to keep too much power in his own hands and bypass parliament.
The country currently records 313.011 confirmed cases of Covid-19, and 35.875 deaths.
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