COVID-19: Regions want facemasks outdoors - Lazio official

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 24 - Italy's regions want central government to reintroduce the obligation for people to wear facemasks outdoors as part of the effort to curb COVID-19 contagion amid the fourth wave of the virus, a Lazio official said on Wednesday.
    "The hypothesis of (making obligatory) facemasks outdoors has been raised by the regions in talks with the government," said Lazio Health Chief Alessio D'Amato, adding that the proposal was linked to crowds forming in shopping areas in the run-up to Christmas.
    "It is a measure that should be adopted immediately all over Italy, regardless of the (COVID-risk) colour (of a region).
    "Masks should be worn outdoors, especially in crowded places".
    The World Health Organization's Europe office has said that "if from today universal mask coverage of 95% was achieved, it is estimated that over 160,000 deaths could be prevented by 1 March 2022".
    Currently, 48% of people in Europe wear a mask when leaving home, it said. (ANSA).