From Reuters:
“Italian
regions up in arms over government's Xmas Covid curbs”
Italy’s regions
on Thursday hit out at the government over its latest curbs to control the
coronavirus, saying they were not consulted over measures that were too hard on
families and did not compensate hard-hit businesses. Under a decree
approved late on Wednesday, Italians will not be able to move between the
country’s 20 regions from Dec. 21 to Jan. 6 except for work, medical reasons or
emergencies. On Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day they cannot even
leave their towns. In a joint statement the regional governments said
they had not been consulted and “the lack of discussion has made it impossible
to balance the curbs with the needs of families.”
Since the start
of Italy’s pandemic there has been constant friction between the central
government led by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and the regional authorities,
most of which are in the hands of the centre-right opposition. “Reading an
unexpected decree that bans movements between towns in the same region on Dec.
25, 26 and Jan. 1... is crazy,” said Attilio Fontana, governor of the northern
Lombardy region which has reported the most cases and deaths. While the increase
in new infections and hospital admissions has slowed in recent weeks, Italy is
still reporting more daily COVID-19 fatalities than any other European nation
and the government is worried about gatherings over Christmas. Millions of
Italians live in small towns and villages and the new rules will ban movement
between them at Christmas and on New Year’s Day, even if they are within
walking distance. “These families must remain divided even at Christmas. This
is yet more proof that the government does not know Italy,” said Matteo
Salvini, leader of the rightist League opposition party.
The government
is expected to introduce more measures late on Thursday aimed at preventing
gatherings during Christmas, with Conte due to hold a news conference to
illustrate them at 1915 GMT. All ski resorts will be closed until January, a
draft document seen by Reuters shows, while the Christmas Eve mass,
traditionally held at midnight, must be brought forward to allow worshippers to
return home before a 10 p.m. curfew.
^ It seems the
Italian Federal Government didn’t consult with the Regional Governments before
making this very major decision and announcement. That is not a very good move
especially if you want ordinary people to follow what you say. ^
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