Rome, 23 February 2021 – Mario Draghi is tightening the pace in view of the new Dpcm. The summit with the ministers on the front line on the pandemic and the CTS began on time around 19: an operational meeting to take stock of the fight against the Covid. The Government accelerates on the upcoming measures to be taken: the premier in person chairs, the president of the Higher Health Council also participates, Franco Locatelli, the president of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità Silvio Brusaferro and the coordinator of the Scientific Technical Committee, Agostino Miozzo. The latter, entering Palazzo Chigi, explained that he is not afraid of a “third wave” of Covid but that “caution is needed”.
Draghi is stepping up to speed, under pressure from party leaders and governors. Launched on Covid decree (here the text in Pdf) with the extension of prohibition of shift between regions and stop a visits to friends and relatives in the red zone, it is time to identify clear rules on any tightening or reopening, but also on refreshments and measures in favor of the economy.
They are present at the meeting for the executive Giancarlo Giorgetti (Lega, Economic Development), Roberto Speranza (Leo, Health), Dario Franceschini (Pd, Culture), Maria Stella Gelmini (FI, Regional Affairs), Elena Bonetti (Iv, Family). For the M5S, as in the meeting last Saturday, there is Stefano Patuanelli (Minister of Agricultural Policies) who today expressed the need to write a protocol to restart catering as soon as possible. The latest news also confirm the presence of the Minister of Economy, Daniele Franco. Hope tomorrow he will report to Parliament, the Chamber and Thursday to the Senate, on the provision of which the first outlines could already be outlined today. Then the government will hear the Regions and the CTS again, with the aim of reaching a decision that is not close to the deadline, but at least 4 or 5 days before. And so the new Dpcm, as it filters, it will see the light in advance compared to the deadline of 5 March.
The line of Dragons
The government has pledged to be “timely”, but it is not clear what Draghi’s moves will be on the reopening. In recent days there was talk of a ‘All of Italy in the orange zone, a hypothesis that at the moment seems to be over. Yesterday the premier phoned German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a first contact to encourage a “shared exercise” in the fight against the pandemic. In Germany, schools in 10 out of 16 states reopened yesterday, but fears of a third wave of Coronavirus are growing in the country. And the chancellor has not been, in recent times, for the soft line.
The position of the Cts
The watchword is prudence. The indications of the Scientific Technical Committee do not change compared to the past weeks, the evolution in the last weeks of Covid variants advises caution. Experts have warned the government of the risk of soaring infections in the event of one reopening of ski resorts, gyms, swimming pools or cinemas. Talking about it now, according to the technicians, is premature. A position that the technicians – after meeting this afternoon in view of tonight’s meeting – reaffirm at Palazzo a Chigi. The CTS will meet again tomorrow to evaluate the safety protocol developed by the entertainment associations. Maximum precaution, this is the line. As far as we know, the issue of the revision of the parameters for the risk bands has not yet been addressed, a topic that will be on the table in the next meetings.
Regions and reopening
Draghi has to cope though the requests of the Regions which on the one hand push for homogeneous measures at national level, on the other call for reopening where possible. Today’s statements by Stefano Bonaccini, president of Emilia-Romagna and of the conference of the Regions. First talk to L’aria che Tira su La7, about the restaurants open in the evening in lower risk areas: a Salvini proposal that Bonaccini considers “reasonable”. Consideration that generates various stomach aches in the Democratic Party (“Salvini’s proposals are always instrumental, never reasonable – says the work manager of Marco Miccoli -. Better to rely on technicians and science”). In the afternoon, the Emilian governor dispels all doubts about his line: “Where we can afford it in the coming weeks or months, with reduced capacities, gradually reopen cinemas and theaters”. So it is the president of Veneto, Luca Zaia, to announce new meetings in the coming days between the government and the regions. For the new Dpcm, it seems to be understood, we will not have to wait long.
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