Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced a new Government decree to combat the Coronavirus pandemic, shutting down almost all commercial and manufacturing activities, leaving only pharmacies, supermarkets and food delivery.
This is an even more stringent measure than the one already announced, because the number of positive tests in Italy has gone above 12,000 with 827 deaths, an increase of 196 in the last 24 hours alone.
“The moment has come to take another step, the most important one,” announced the PM this evening.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced a new Government decree to combat the Coronavirus pandemic, shutting down almost all commercial and manufacturing activities, leaving only pharmacies, supermarkets and food delivery.
This is an even more stringent measure than the one already announced, because the number of positive tests in Italy has gone above 12,000 with 827 deaths, an increase of 196 in the last 24 hours alone.
“The moment has come to take another step, the most important one,” announced the PM this evening.
“We order the closure of all commercial activities, aside from supermarkets and pharmacies. Food delivery services will be allowed. Some industries will remain open, but only with certain security measures in place to avoid contagion. We will guarantee public transportation, banking, insurance and farming activity.
“You need not rush to the supermarkets, but we will close pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, beauty salons and dining halls. It is important that we realise the actions we have taken will only really show their effects in a couple of weeks. We must be sharp, measured, rigorous and responsible.”
The Coronavirus is now spreading rapidly throughout Europe and also the United States of America, so Italy represent a warning to nations who are not taking the pandemic seriously.
“Italy is showing that it is mature, united and responsible,” noted Conte. “All of Europe looks at us and our numbers, they see a country that is struggling, but also reacting with responsibility.
“Tomorrow they will look at us and admire our positive example, as a country that with its sense of responsibility was able to beat a pandemic.
“We were the first in Europe to be hit hard, but also the first to react with such vehemence.”