ROME, Oct 8 (NNN-XINHUA) – Strict anti-COVID-19 measures, including the mandatory use of face masks everywhere, will be reintroduced in Italy, starting today, in an effort to curb a rising trend in infections.
The decision was announced yesterday by Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, after a meeting in which the cabinet passed a specific decree that will keep such rules in place until Oct 31, at least.
The decree came, as new active infections in Italy rose to 62,576 as of yesterday, from about 12,700 on Aug 6, according to the Health Ministry’s latest data. The country’s cumulative number of COVID-19 cases stood at 333,940, including 235,303 recoveries and 36,061 deaths.
Along with the restrictions, the cabinet decided to prolong the state of emergency to Jan 31, 2021.
First declared on Jan 31 for six months, and already extended once until Oct 15, the state of emergency allows the cabinet to act swiftly through decrees. This decision was submitted by Health Minister, Roberto Speranza, to parliament on Tuesday and approved by a majority of the assembly.
The new decree was conceived in order to “face this phase marked by a rising trend in infections,” Conte told a press conference outside the government building.– NNN-XINHUA
