Stop the virus race and maintain the advantage accumulated in recent months, to prevent the Omicron variant from spreading in Italy as it is happening in other European countries where cases have skyrocketed over 50 thousand a day. With six Regions and 12 million Italians who will spend Christmas in the yellow zone, and the new record of the fourth wave with 26 thousand cases in one day, the government claims the tightening on travel and does not rule out further measures if the situation worsens, starting from the possibility of introducing the mandatory swab also for vaccinated people who want to go to see matches in stadiums and arenas, go to a disco or attend a concert.
Experts are now convinced that the incidence of cases linked to Omicron will also grow in Italy. “We expect an increase, the European Center for Disease Control (Ecdc) tells us and the experiences coming from other countries tell us – underlines the president of the Higher Institute of Health Silvio Brusaferro – We are still in the battle and also if we have a more controlled growth condition it is still growth ».
Possible new restrictions
This is why, it is the reasoning of the government, it is necessary to anticipate the spread of Omicron, continuing to push on vaccinations and evaluating the possibility of new restrictive interventions. The first has already taken place with the ordinance signed by the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza which introduces the obligation to have a tampon even for vaccinated people who come to Italy from EU countries and reintroduces the 5-day quarantine for non-vaccinated people. “In these hours – says Speranza – our priority can only be to continue to work to secure the country and to continue to maintain a high level of surveillance, to prevent the numbers of the infection and hospitalizations from growing in too significantly “.
Buffer hypothesis also for vaccinated for large events
The other measure was instead indicated by the president of the Higher Health Council and coordinator of the Cts Franco Locatelli: to introduce the obligation of the swab to access major events even for the vaccinated. “It is a hypothesis to consider if the epidemiological situation were to worsen.”
The knot must have outdoor masks
Just as it should not be excluded, he adds, the possibility of the obligation to wear a mask outdoors. Someone in the government had already tried with the latest decree, the one that extended the state of emergency, but the measure did not pass into the CDM. Also because it would be a facade measure: many mayors and regional presidents have already introduced it with their own ordinances and, above all, the legislation in force already provides for the obligation to open outdoors in the event of gatherings or situations in which it is not possible keep the distance.