Italy, three quarters confined from Monday to halt the progression of the coronavirus, expects an improvement “in the second half of spring,” said its Minister of Health Roberto Speranza on Sunday.
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“The implementation of more stringent measures and the gradual increase in the number of people vaccinated lead us to believe that we will have improving figures already in the second half of spring,” said the minister in an interview published on Sunday in the daily La Repubblica.
“The new fact is the variants, English in particular which is now prevalent in our country. In the latest study by the Higher Institute of Health, it represented 54% of cases, but we now expect a much higher figure, ”he said.
“Each dose of vaccine injected is a step towards ending the crisis,” commented the Italian minister, who expressed his confidence in the European and Italian authorities approving vaccines, who advise continuing to use the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Three quarters of the country were classified from Monday in “red zone” until April 6 including the Easter holidays.
During the weekend – the last days of freedom for 48 million Italians from eleven regions – the police sometimes had to intervene to put an end to too large gatherings in Rome or Milan, or on the coast, while the hair salons were taken by storm.
Schools will be closed from Monday, as will bars and restaurants (except for take-out), as well as most non-essential businesses.
The other Italian regions are classified as “orange” (intermediate risk), which makes it possible to travel without a certificate. One region is an exception for its good epidemic figures, Sardinia, classified as “white” with no curfew and no restrictions on business openings.
The objective announced on Saturday by the new Italian government is to vaccinate 80% of its population by October, and ramp up vaccinations to reach 500,000 people per day from mid-April.
Italy, which has nearly 102,000 deaths since the start of the epidemic, experienced 26,000 additional cases of positivity and 317 deaths on Saturday in 24 hours.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Friday that Italy is facing a “new wave of contagion” more than a year after the start of the pandemic, calling for “the greatest caution”.