Govt draft decree extends state of emergency to March 31

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 14 - Premier Mario Draghi's government is set to extend the COVID-19 state of emergency until March 31 at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, sources said.
    The cabinet is viewing a draft decree containing 11 articles extending all current provisions regarding the health emergency, The state of emergency, which gives the government special powers and has been extended several times since first being declared when the pandemic broke out early in 2020, had been set to expire at the end of this year.
    "At the cabinet meeting today more decisions will be taken on the emergency that we are going through," Health Minister Roberto Speranza said.
    Sources said the government might make wearing facemasks outdoors obligatory over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
    (ANSA).