Prime Minister Conte has further restricted freedom of movement in Italy and declared the whole country a restricted area. If not absolutely necessary, people should not leave their homes.
By Lisa Weiß, ARD Studio Rome
Giuseppe Contes expression is serious at the late evening press conference, which is almost familiar these days. And again he announces even more drastic measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus – or at least to slow it down. The message can be summed up in one sentence, says the Prime Minister:
“I will stay at home. There will be no red zone, no zone one and zone two of the peninsula. There is only Italy, Italy as a protection zone.”
Italy as a protection zone, that is, the restrictions that previously applied in large parts of northern Italy are now valid throughout the country. People in Italy can now only be on the move for professional or health reasons – or when it is otherwise urgently necessary.
Police can check people
The airports should not be closed, trains continue, just like public transport. You have to enable people to go to work so that the economy doesn’t collapse, says Conte. But like in the north of the country, police officers can now stop people all over Italy and check whether their trip is justified.
“If you want to justify your trip, it is possible to fill out a self-declaration with the reason why you are traveling. However, I would like to remind you that the information must be true. Anyone who provides false information in the self-declaration is guilty of another offense. ”
Schools, universities and kindergartens throughout Italy will remain closed until April 3rd – at least. Public gatherings and sporting events such as football games may not take place for the time being. Bars and restaurants have to close at 6 p.m. every day.
Significant increase in those infected
He understands how big the restrictions are, especially for young people who want to meet in the evening, says Conte. But you shouldn’t waste time because the numbers show a clear increase in the number of infected. Figures released by Civil Protection Chief Angelo Borrelli a few hours earlier:
“We have now identified 97 deaths, a total of 463 deaths. The number of people who test positive increases by 1598.”
Almost 10,000 people have contracted infection in Italy, most of them in the north of the country. One reason for the extension of the protection zone to the whole of Italy could be that many people have fled from the north to the south of Italy – when the news spread that the movement of people in the north should be restricted.
Approval for the new measures
There is already approval for the new measures from northern Italy: The President of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia, said that a virus cannot be effectively combated with unevenly distributed restrictions. Restrictions for which Giuseppe Conte then asks the citizens for understanding.
“Believe me, it is not easy for me. I know what responsibility it is and how serious it is to take these measures all over Italy. But I have to intervene even more to protect all of us and especially the people who are very are fragile and vulnerable. “
