Unprecedented Italian Government Action: Declaration of Travel Ban Across the Country
Italy’s Prime Minister has extended travel restrictions to combat coronavirus throughout the entire country. These restrictions apply to all of Italy’s population. No other country in the world has taken such a measure to combat the coronavirus so far.
Compliance with travel restrictions in Italy is mandatory for all 60 million residents of the country. Earlier in the final days of last week, these restrictions had been planned only for northern Italy and the Lombardy region. Now it is being reported that the decision to impose travel restrictions across the entire country will be implemented. Implementation of this decision became mandatory throughout Italy on Tuesday, March 20 in the Iranian calendar (March 10).
The expansion of the “red zone” to all of Italian territory is a decision announced by Giuseppe Conte, the country’s Prime Minister. An unprecedented measure in combating the spread of the coronavirus in this country. Conte stated that from Tuesday, March 10, there will no longer be a “red zone” in Italy and these restrictions will apply to all of Italy. The “red zone” had referred to northern Italy and travel restrictions in that region.
Italy’s Prime Minister stated that there should be no negligence in combating the coronavirus. He announced on the evening of March 9 in Rome that by issuing a decree, he would enforce travel restrictions throughout Italy. As a result, all gatherings in Italy will be prohibited from Tuesday, March 10.
Conte stated that all Italian people must reconsider their behavior and way of life. Italy’s Prime Minister deemed the adoption of such a decision necessary to combat the spread of coronavirus and announced it as being in the interest of the country’s people.
Ban on Holding Gatherings
Based on the Italian government’s decision, all ceremonies and sporting, cultural, and religious events in the country have been cancelled. This includes matches of first-division Italian football clubs (Serie A).
Furthermore, the doors of museums, cinemas, and concert halls and theaters will be closed to visitors. The skiing season in South Tyrol has also been announced as ending prematurely.
Based on the Italian government’s decision, schools and universities in the country, which had closed since Thursday of last week, will remain closed.
This is while trains and flights in Italy have not been cancelled. However, the government has ordered citizens of the country to leave their homes only if necessary.
Italy has the second-highest number of confirmed cases of coronavirus after China. According to the latest statistics released by officials of this country, at least 10,000 people in the country have contracted coronavirus and so far more than 460 people have lost their lives as a result of contracting this disease.
It should be noted that travel restrictions in Italy, as well as the closure of educational and recreational centers and institutions, will remain valid until April 3.
Source: DW
