The CTS panel of experts advising the
government on the coronavirus emergency suggested sealing off
two Lombardy towns that were among the first to be hit by the
pandemic on March 3, according to newly released documents.
Bergamo prosecutors are investigating if any felonies were
committed in the failure to promptly set up 'red zones' at
Nembro and Alzano Lombardo by sealing them off and locking them
down.
The CTS proposed adopting "the appropriate restrictive measures
already adopted in municipalities of the red zone" at Nembro and
Alzano Lombardo during a meeting at the civil protection
department on March 3, according to the minutes, "in order to
limit the spread of infection in neighbouring areas".
The government initially sealed off several towns in the
province of Lodi and one in Veneto, Vò, in the early stages of
the COVID-19 emergency here.
The same measures were not applied to Nembro and Alzano Lombardo
though and later in March the government imposed a national
lockdown.
Under that, all but essential activities were halted and people
were only allowed out of their homes to get provisions, or for
health reasons or for work, if their job was among those
considered essential.
There were cases, however, of regions intervening to set up red
zones when outbreaks occurred, without central government making
the call.
Matteo Salvini, the leader of the opposition League party, said
Premier Giuseppe Conte and his government should be "taken to an
international court for holding captive half of Italy" by
imposing a national lockdown rather than sealing off these
towns.
The minutes of the meeting at which the CTS suggested setting up
red zones on Nembro and Alzano Lombardo were obtained by
Lombardy regional councillor Niccolò Carretta after he made a
request on April 6 for this documentation.
Conte was questioned for three hours by Bergamo prosecutors in
June in relation to the case.
The prosecutors also questioned, as "persons informed of the
facts", health and interior ministers Roberto Speranza and
Luciana Lamorgese
"I acted according to science and my conscience," Conte said at
the time when asked the probe.
Prosecutor Maria Cristina Rota told journalists outside the
premier's office she had never said the responsibility for
setting up red zones was Rome's.
She said Conte and the ministers had shown "the utmost
collaboration" with the probe.
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