Premier Giuseppe Conte said Italy
cannot afford to "lower the guard" after passing a decree with
strict rules for Christmas with the aim of stopping the festive
season fuelling a third wave of COVID-19 contagion.
The package includes a ban on travelling between regions between
December 21 and January 6 and a ban on moving outside one's home
town on Christmas Day, St Stephen's Day and New Year's Day.
"We have to avoid a third wave, which in January could be no
less violent than the first and second waves," Conte told a
press conference.
"We are not having another nationwide lockdown. There should be
no divisions. It's time to act united".
There is tension, however, between Conte's executive and Italy's
regional governments, which expressed "astonishment and
bitterness" at the way the decree was approved and the alleged
lack of dialogue with them.
"The ban on travelling on Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day to
get together with family is unacceptable," said Lombardy
Governor Attilio Fontana.
Liguria Governor Giovanni Toti said the "government measures
don't make sense".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA