Plan presented this Sunday foresees three dates for the return of activities
Italy announced on Sunday (26) that it will begin to relax the quarantine from May 4. The rules of the so-called “phase two” of containing the virus were explained by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who thanked the population for their collaboration, but said that the slow and gradual return to normality is essential to avoid a new growth in cases.
A phase two of the containment plan, according to Conte, will be about “coexistence with the virus”, and will take place in three stages, which will begin on May 4th, May 18th and June 1st.
“We expect a very complex challenge”, said the premier about the plan, which took weeks to prepare, “We will need to live with the virus and adopt all possible precautions”, he said.
No partying among family members
From May 4th, visits to family members will be allowed – “but not private parties”, as the premier warned – and funerals with up to 15 people. Masses and religious services, however, will continue to be suspended, something that has generated criticism from Catholic organizations. Parks and gardens will reopen for the practice of individual sports, as long as a distance of 2 meters is respected. Therefore, it is up to the municipality to decide whether to open the parks.
Still, the reasons to leave will not expand. Traffic between regions of the country will continue to be suspended and those leaving home must present declarations justifying their journeys. A law will also be created regulating that only those with body temperatures below 37,5 degrees will be able to leave the house.
In this first stage, much of the industrial and civil construction activity will resume. Two weeks later, on the 18th, the reopening of commerce will begin. In addition to stores, museums, exhibition centers and libraries will be able to open their doors again. The rest of the industries will also be able to return to normal. Bookstores, stationery stores and baby clothing stores have been open since April 14th.
Restaurants and bars only in June
If the contagion curve remains under control, restaurants and bars will be able to return to normal operation from June 1st, but respecting social distancing rules. Beauty salons, barbershops and personal care establishments will also be able to reopen. Schools, in turn, will only reopen with the start of the new school year, in September.
“The reopening will be permitted under the condition that all companies involved strictly respect the protocols,” Conte said.
The quarantine was particularly difficult for Italy, which has one of the largest public debts on the planet.
Amid predictions that the country will have its worst recession since the Second World War, businesspeople have been pressuring the government to revive the economy more quickly.
According to Conte, restrictions should remain in force until a vaccine against Covid-19 is discovered.
