Premier Giuseppe Conte's cabinet met
on Wednesday to extend Italy's COVID-19 state of emergency until
January 31 and approve a decree with new measures to combat the
spread of the coronavirus, sources said
The state of emergency, among other things, gives special powers
to governors and other public bodies, making it possible, for
example, to create 'red zones' sealing off areas where a
coronavirus outbreak has occurred.
The obligation to respect coronavirus-prevention measures, such
as social distancing of at least one metre with people you do
not live with, the use of facemasks and frequent hand washing
and the obligation to stay at home if you have fever of 37.5° or
more, remains too for the time being.
The new measures, include the obligation to wear facemasks
outside, rather than only in enclosed public spaces, if you are
in an area where you will come close to people you do not live
with.
Carrying a mask with you at all times becomes mandatory.
Several regions, such as Lazio, the region around Rome, and
Campania, have already made facemasks obligatory outside after
an upswing in coronavirus cases in recent weeks.
The government is also extending the obligation for people
arriving in Italy from Britain, the Netherlands and Belgium to
have a swab for the coronavirus.
This obligation was already in force for arrivals from Croatia,
Greece, Malta, Spain and from Paris and seven French regions.
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