While the second Easter in lockdown is approaching for Italy with the whole country in the red band on the holiday weekend (3, 4 e April 5th), the Government is committed to defining the new Covid decree which will establish the rules until the end of next month (April 30). A Council of Ministers could be held on Tuesday or Wednesday to approve the provision but in the meantime, on the question of possible reopening, the pressing of Matteo Salvini which has faded the tone by dropping the threat of not letting the Northern League exponents vote for the measures in the Government and in Parliament.
The program
The work program that the government and the regions have set themselves foresees Monday March 29 a meeting on the vaccination plan between the Regions and the ministers Roberto Speranza and Mariastella Mariastella Gelmini, the Covid Commissioner Francesco Paolo Figliuolo and the head of Civil Protection Fabrizio Curcio in which the premier will also take part Mario Draghi. The verification of the measures will instead take place in the middle of the month, when the control room will meet to evaluate the trend of the contagion curve. If, based on data verification, the situation improves, the government may consider some reopening. These are the possible “changes in progress” that the premier spoke of in the press conference on Friday March 26.
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The government line
The premier’s line does not change: look at the numbers, which must be as accurate as possible, in order to make decisions on constantly updated data. The fear of the “rigorist” wing, headed by the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza,and that the premier shares, is that with out-of-control numbers the vaccination campaign that must take to travel at a fast pace to reach the set goals is compromised. However, this does not mean keeping closed indefinitely: the Prime Minister is ready to modify the new decree even in the running if the situation allows it.
Bars and restaurants
The new decree will effectively renew all the measures currently in force and will confirm the system of bands but for the whole of April there will be no yellow regions. For bars and restaurants, therefore, the rules imposed by the orange and red band will apply: it is forbidden to consume food and drinks inside the premises and in their vicinity. Only the sale with take-away of food and drinks is allowed from 5 all 22 (until to 18 for bars without kitchen). If the situation improves, however, bars and restaurants could resume welcoming customers at least for lunch (as happens in the yellow zone).
Cinemas and theaters
The cancellation of the yellow band up to April 30 has prevented the reopening of cinemas and theaters, which had been scheduled for March 27. The hypothesis is to reopen the rooms in the areas with fewer infections. The shows would be carried out with pre-assigned and spaced seats and on condition that respect for the interpersonal distance of at least one meter is ensured for both staff and spectators who are not habitually cohabiting.