All of Italy becomes a restricted zone
Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.
More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.Italy is not getting the spread of the corona virus under control. More and more people are dying. The prime minister is now pulling the emergency brake. And declares the whole of Italy to be a restricted zone. This has dramatic consequences for around 60 million people.
(Update, dpa) - The Italian government is expanding the blocks and restrictions on freedom of movement due to the coronavirus crisis to the whole country. There is no time to lose to contain the spread of the virus, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Monday. "Our habits have to change, we all have to give up something for the good of Italy."
International train and flight connections as well as local public transport should not be suspended. Schools, universities and kindergartens across the country will remain closed until at least April 3. All sporting events, including Serie A games, will also be suspended. Around 60 million people are affected by the measures.
At the weekend, the government had already declared Lombardy and other areas in northern Italy to be restricted areas. You were only allowed to travel out of and into them for valid reasons - for example, for work-related or health reasons. To do this, you had to submit a self-declaration. It is still unclear what the current regulations will look like.
The country is fighting against a rapidly increasing number of people infected and dead from Covid-19 lung disease. Almost 10,000 people have now been infected and more than 460 have died. The new regulation should apply from Tuesday.
“There will be no more red zones (...). There will be a single protection zone in Italy, ”said Conte. One of the reasons for the decision is also likely to be that many people fled the restricted areas in the north to the previously less affected south before the controls began. Events with many people are no longer allowed to take place across the country.
It is still unclear what exactly the new regulations mean for foreigners in Italy and the remaining tourists. However, tourists have so far been able to leave the restricted areas in the north. However, airlines had cut or completely suspended their connections to the north. People entering Italy should be checked at the borders.
In view of the coronavirus epidemic, the Foreign Office in Berlin had already warned against traveling to numerous areas in north and central Italy. “Limit your travel in and to Italy to what is necessary at the moment,” says the current travel and safety information.
"We have two goals: to curb the spread of the infection and to avoid overloading the hospital facilities," said Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. One may only enter or leave the zones for "serious and unavoidable" reasons, for example for the purpose of work or for family reasons, it said.
Residents were no longer allowed to move freely within the restricted zones limited to the north. "There is limited mobility," said the prime minister. You should only leave your house for good reason. Bars and restaurants are only allowed to open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. - and only if they ensure that there is a distance of at least one meter between the guests. The opening times have also been restricted for shops.
Conte confirmed far-reaching bans for the entire country. All cinemas, theaters, museums, sports clubs, demonstrations and many other events have to close or be canceled. Sights like the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums are now closed until further notice. The traditional Angelus prayer of Pope Francis is only available as a video transmission.
Conte said yesterday in relation to the lockdown regulations in the north, there was no stop for flights and trains. The police could stop people and ask about them. For example, if you have to go to another area because of work, you have to present a letter from your employer during controls. Freight traffic is approved. There should be controls at exits on the motorways. Violations of the instruction can be punished with up to three months imprisonment and a fine of 260 euros, media reported. "We are facing a national emergency," said Conte.
Southern Italy warned of an onslaught of people from the north at the weekend. The government said tourists in the exclusion zone could leave and should do so directly. The presidents of southern regions such as Apulia, Sicily or Campania announced that people from the restricted zones would have to be isolated or quarantined at home.
The Foreign Office in Berlin tried to clarify what the newly imposed measures mean for German travelers and emigrants. The Foreign Ministry said that the German missions abroad were ready to "support Germans in the areas if necessary". Tourism in Italy has collapsed completely since the outbreak of the crisis. (cf / dpa)
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