Fontana slams 'shameful' Covid probe media notification

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 2 - Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana on Thursday described as "shameful" the fact that he learned from the newspapers rather than from the judicial authorities that he is under investigation together with other prominent public figures including former premier Giuseppe Conte and then health minister Roberto Speranza in relation to the government's response to the Covid-19 outbreak in early 2020.
    "It is shameful that someone who was heard at the beginning of the investigation as a person with knowledge of the facts should find out from the newspapers that he has been turned into a suspect," Fontana told Radio Anch'io on Thursday morning.
    On Wednesday prosecutors in Bergamo wound up a three-year inquiry into the alleged failure of Conte and his government to take adequate measures to contain the spread of the virus by creating a "red zone" in two areas hit hardest by the outbreak.
    In all, around 20 people are implicated in the investigations, including former Lombardy councillor Giulio Gallera, president of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy's main centre for research, control and technical-scientific advice on public health, Silvio Brusaferro, and president of the Consiglio Superiore di Sanità, the health ministry's senior advisory body, Franco Locatelli.
    The notices of completion of the investigation were being served yesterday evening, media reported.
    The Bergamo Deputy Prosecutor Cristina Rota, together with investigating magistrates Silvia Marchina and Paolo Mandurino under the supervision of Prosecutor Antonio Chiappani, have been looking at possible charges of causing an epidemic.
    Conte, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2021 and is now president of the populist Five Star Movement, said Wednesday he was "peaceful before the country and Italian citizens" and that his government had acted "with the utmost commitment and responsibility during one of the most difficult moments of our Republic".
    Conte added that he would make himself "fully available" and "fully cooperate" with the judiciary.
    "I have always believed that anyone who had responsibility for managing the pandemic should be prepared to be held accountable," said the former health minister Roberto Speranza.
    "I am very calm and confident that I have always acted with discipline and honor in the exclusive interest of the country. I have total confidence as always in the judiciary," he added.
    The files concerning Conte and Speranza will be sent to the tribunal of ministers for evaluation and authorization to proceed.
    "Starting today, the history of the Bergamo and Lombardy massacre, of our families, of the responsibilities that led to our loss, is being rewritten. The history of an Italy that has forgotten what happened in spring 2020, not because of Covid19, but because of specific decisions or lack of decisions," said the #Sereniesempreuniti association of victims' relatives Wednesday in response to the news of the end of the investigation.
    Bergamo was one of the epicentres of the coronavirus outbreak in Europe, with thousands of people dying in the first couple of months. (ANSA).