New Delhi: The Prime Minister of Italy – Giuseppe Conte has announced new restrictions on Sunday to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country. Recently Italy has reported 11,700 cases which is a new warning bell for the country.
According to the Health Ministry of Italy the country posted 10,925 new infections on Saturday which is the highest daily tally till than, up from the previous record of 10,010 cases posted on Friday.
In new measures, Restaurants and Bars will close for customer after 6 pm but it can maintain the current midnight closing time. On a single table – not more than six people will be allowed.
To stop the spread of deadly virus, Local festivals have been banned but Gyms and Public swimming pools may remain open.
PM Giuseppe Conte said “there would be a one-week period of review and if it is determined that rules aren’t being strictly followed they would be closed.” Conte announced allowances for high schools to open later and hold afternoon shifts.
The restrictions stop short of a curfew-like one imposed in Paris and other major French cities, but Italian mayors can close public squares and other gathering places after 9 pm and permit access only to reach homes or businesses.
Both Rome and regional governments are loath to see new lockdowns, after the 10-week closure that successfully impeded the virus spread at a cost of 47 billion euros a month to the economy.
Italy was the first major European country to be hit by COVID-19 and had managed to get the outbreak under control by the summer thanks to a rigid two-month lockdown on business and people’s movement. But infections have soared in recent weeks.
At least 36,543 people have died of the coronavirus in Italy.
_Vinayak.Barot