COVID: End almost all curbs, economy reopens - Draghi

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 17 - "Reopening the economy" and "limiting distance learning, is a state we have arrived at, and cabinet OK'd major measures eliminating almost all the restrictions that have limited our behaviour," Premier Mario Draghi said announcing the end of the state of emergency at the end of March and an end to the Green Pass on May 1.
    "I want to also thank all the Italians for their altruism, and patience demonstrated in these years: we are often perceived as having a scant civic sense but instead we have been very good in this pandemic, we should be proud of that", he told a press conference.
    Vaccines averted some 80,000 deaths last year, he added.
    Draghi aid the government was ready, however, to "adapt on the basis of the epidemiological curve" in COVID cases.
    Health Minister Roberto Speranza said the functions currently being performed by COVID emergency commissioner Francesco Figliuolo would devolve onto other "units" until the end of the year, while the colour-coded system for regions' COVID risks would be ended.
    Education Minister Patrizio Bianchi said he was pleased with the cabinet's decision to extend COVID staffing until the end of the school year.
    The obligation to have the Green Pass to do many things in Italy will end on May 1, sources said after cabinet approved a road map easing COVID restrictions from the end of April. From April 1 foreigners will no longer be required to show a 'Super Green Pass' in restaurants, ministerial sources said. The League vainly tried to get the government to bring the end to the Green Pass forward to April 15, two days before Easter Sunday. Earlier on Thursday the government's 'control room' task force met to discuss the steps of the phasing out the nation's COVID-19 restrictions with the coronavirus state of emergency ending on March 31. The current regime under which people must wear facemasks in enclosed public spaces, including schools, will remain in force until April 30, the sources said. The obligation to wear facemasks on public transport will continue until the end of April too, therefore, although it will no longer be necessary to show a Green Pass to get on from April 1, according to the sources. At the moment the Super Green Pass, which shows a person is vaccinated for the coronavirus or has recovered from it, is needed to do almost all social, leisure, cultural or sporting activities in Italy and over-50s also need it to access places of work. Over-50s will be able to access places of work with a base Green Pass, which can be obtained by having a negative test although it only lasts a few days in this way, like younger people during the month of April. The government has also decided that all COVID-linked capacity limits at places such as soccer stadiums and night clubs will end on April 1, the sources said. (ANSA).