Italian PM Mario Draghi prepares a video message as new Covid-19 cases spike | World News - Hindustan Times
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Italian PM Mario Draghi prepares a video message as new Covid-19 cases spike

Reuters | | Posted by Harshit Sabarwal
Mar 07, 2021 06:41 PM IST

It was not clear if Draghi would suggest further curbs to counter the spread of new, highly contagious variants. He is preparing a video address to mark Monday's International Women's Day and is expected to stress the need for solidarity with those suffering in the pandemic.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi will deliver on Monday his first public speech since he took office last month, an official at his office said, as the country faces mounting coronavirus cases and possible new restrictions.

Draghi, who took office on Feb. 13, has not spoken publicly since Feb. 17 when he addressed parliament.(via Reuters)
Draghi, who took office on Feb. 13, has not spoken publicly since Feb. 17 when he addressed parliament.(via Reuters)

It was not clear if Draghi would suggest further curbs to counter the spread of new, highly contagious variants. He is preparing a video address to mark Monday's International Women's Day and is expected to stress the need for solidarity with those suffering in the pandemic.

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Draghi, who took office on Feb. 13, has not spoken publicly since Feb. 17 when he addressed parliament.

Italy has established a four-tier colour-coded system (white, yellow, orange and red) with curbs calibrated according to the infection levels and revised every week.

Italian newspapers reported on Sunday that the government is now considering automatically turning regions into red zones if the threshold of 250 weekly virus cases per 100,000 inhabitants is breached.

Possible measures from mid-March include making the entire country a red zone for three or four weeks, La Repubblica said.

"The second wave never stopped, we’re seeing a very strong pickup due to the variants, which is leading us to take measures that are ever-more restrictive," Health Minister Roberto Speranza told Il Corriere della Sera in an interview on Sunday.

Asked whether the government would introduce a national lockdown at least at weekends, and a stricter curfew, he said: "It’s clear that we will monitor the epidemiological situation, adapting the measures in the light of the variants."

Italy reported 307 coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday and 23,641 new infections. The country has registered 99,578 deaths linked to Covid-19, the second-highest toll in Europe after Britain.


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