By In Trieste
According to numerous reports in Italian media, Italy is working towards extending its state of emergency until 31 December 2020.
PM Giuseppe Conte is reportedly close to extending the current state of emergency which comes to an end of 31 July – until the end of 2020.
Speaking to reporters in Venice on 10 July Conte said that people “shouldn’t be surprised” if the state of emergency is extended, as without it Italy would no longer have the “means or tools” to intervene, reports Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.
“The state of emergency serves to keep the virus under control. We have not yet decided, but we are reasonably moving in that direction,” he added.
Conte told Spanish reporters on 9 July that, in the eventuality of a second wave of coronavirus, Italy is “equipped to keep it under control,” reports Italian news agency ANSA.
In the regional news, governor Massimiliano Fedriga invited everyone who came back from Serbia and other Balkan countries, where the virus is spreading quickly, to self-isolate and not sabotage the results achieved.
“Friuli Venezia Giulia and all of its citizens fought hard against the virus and achieved remarkable results. It is therefore unacceptable that people arriving from Serbia and Kosovo back to our region who result positive don’t self-isolate. We will be forced to introduce fines of €1,000 for those who break quarantine rules.” Fedriga said in his Facebook message to FVG public.
