Facemasks are still required as the
circulation of the COVID-19 virus is still "significant" in
Italy, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said Wednesday.
"The pandemic is not over and there are significant viral
circulation numbers, but we must trust science," he said at the
event 'Public and Private Health Care: How to Restart',
organized by the RCS Academy and Italy's top newspaper Corriere
della Sera.
"As of today we have 91.44% (of Italians) who have had the first
dose of the vaccine, and 90% who have completed the first cycle
plus 39 million who have also had the booster.
"Furthermore, in these days we are starting the second booster
for the over 80s and the fragile.
"The use of facemasks remains essential.
"If we are in a different phase it is thanks to the vaccination
campaign."
Speranza said that for the moment the fourth jab is being given
to the over 80s and the fragile over 60s, and the use of updated
vaccines for the fourth dose for other categories will be
weighed for this autumn.
"That is, in the months that separate us from autumn we will
assess a further booster with updated vaccines for further
brackets of the population, but we will have to understand what
categories with the scientists".
The Higher Health Institute said Wednesday that vaccines had
averted eight million COVID-19 cases and some 150,000 deaths.
Some 74,000 Omicron variant deaths had been averted in January
alone, it said.
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