Conte calls for national unity to combat 'sly, sudden' COVID upswing

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 29 - Premier Giuseppe Conte called for national unity on Thursday as he presented the government's latest restrictions aimed at combatting the spread of COVID-19 after a sharp upswing in contagion.
    Among other things, the new restrictions, the latest in a series of measures passed by Conte's executive, mean Italy's bars and restaurants must stop serving customers at 6pm while cinemas, theatres, swimming pools and gyms must close completely.
    The government has also approved a package of over five billion euros in aid for the sectors worst hit.
    "Last week President (Sergio) Mattarella reminded us that all of the parts of the democratic order know that they must operate with a spirit of unity and cohesion," Conte told the Lower House.
    "Allow me to say that this is truly the time to remain united".
    The premier described the upswing in contagion as "sly and sudden" after Italy registered a record of almost 25,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday.
    He said the aim of the new measures, which his government approved at the weekend, was to "mitigate and cool down" the contagion curve "in order to alleviate the heavy workload" of the national health system". (ANSA).