FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Italy opts for light touch in Europe's battle to contain virus

Italy opts for light touch in Europe's battle to contain virus

Italy, the European country that was hit first and hardest by the coronavirus pandemic and hoped it had dodged the worst of its return, is clinging to the idea that incremental measures can be enough. In doing so, it's following the path many neighbors have taken.

The virus is setting daily records in Europe as the continent contemplates the worst recession in living memory. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte late on Sunday drew the same conclusion as most of his counterparts: prioritize the economy.

"We must act, deploying all the measures necessary to avert a new generalized lockdown," Conte said in a televised news conference. "The country cannot afford a new setback which would severely jeopardize the whole economy."

Trying to keep people covid-free without limiting their personal freedom is something many nations are having a hard time squaring off in this less deadly wave of infections. When Italy's new curbs fell short of the demands made by scientific experts, it showed Conte has become the latest leader trapped between competing interests, with local officials and central government clashing.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel last week struggled to forge a consensus with regional premiers in a meeting that dragged on for eight hours, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has fought publicly with the president of the Madrid region over the correct strategy.

U.K. government officials on Monday continued to negotiate with local leaders in Manchester in an attempt to persuade them to accept the toughest restrictions.

Merkel's Economy Minister, Peter Altmaier, said Germany would be sticking to a policy of targeting measures at localized outbreaks.

"A complete shutdown isn't an option this time because in many sectors there are no problems," Altmaier said Monday in an interview with ZDF television. "When we have very few infections for example in the auto industry or in retail, then you don't achieve anything if you close down the shops or companies."

After cases rose to a record above 7,000 last week, Germany recorded 4,007 new infections in the 24 hours through Monday morning, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Case numbers typically decline over the weekend and into the start of the following week.

Italy lags countries like Spain, France and the U.K. in terms of infections but its government too has succumbed to a series of political struggles -- with allies and the opposition, the medical advisers and the economic forecasters -- about what are the best steps to take.

Conte's new decree -- only five days after a previous package -- picked nightlife and sports as his main targets. It urged mayors to close piazzas and streets at 9 p.m. to stop crowds gathering, and imposed a maximum of six people per table at restaurants which must close at midnight. Amateur and school competitions for contact sports are banned.

Italy's cabinet also approved a 2021 budget in the early hours of Sunday with a focus on supporting families by extending a moratorium on loan and mortgage payments.

What is certain is that there is little coordination between European partners. In Slovakia, every citizen has been promised a test. Switzerland will now require masks in public indoor spaces and has banned spontaneous public gatherings of more than 15 people.

The Czech Republic, which has the most cases per capita in Europe, has shut schools and will wait until the start of next month to assess the impact of its latest restrictions.

"We won't be deciding about a lockdown this week," Industry Minister Karel Havlicek said Sunday. "We said clearly that we'll wait until Nov. 2 for the results."

Several hundred people clashed with police in the center of Prague Sunday during a protest against the curbs, such as closing pubs and banning sporting events.

Ireland is set to introduce some of the toughest constraints in Europe after health authorities recommended a move to the tightest lockdown tier. That would mean non-essential stores are shuttered, all bars closed and travel restricted to within 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) of home.

In Austria, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz will detail new restrictions at a news conference Monday morning. On Sunday, he repeated a call for discipline to help avoid a second lockdown and is expected to announce some tightened measures on masks, social and family gatherings, and possibly an earlier curfew for restaurants.

Poland, meanwhile, has started construction of its first temporary hospital for Covid-19 patients at Warsaw's national stadium.

Romania will likely impose new restrictions in its capital Bucharest later on Monday, including making wearing face masks mandatory in all outdoor and indoor spaces and switching to online schooling, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said late Sunday.

The government in Slovakia on Sunday approved testing for all citizens for the disease next month, claiming it's the only country to attempt it.

"We aren't able to handle the pandemic, let's be honest," Prime Minister Igor Matovic said. "This is a way out of hell which we are heading for."

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