[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Italy is reintroducing high-intensity quarantine measures by restricting the operations of restaurants, bars, and other establishments. Some citizens are protesting, saying, "They are using health as an excuse to impose dictatorship."
According to foreign media, on the 24th (local time), the office of Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced, "From the 26th, cinemas, theaters, gyms, and swimming pools will all be closed. Restaurants and bars must cease operations after 6 p.m."
The reason for implementing such strong lockdown measures is that Italy has recently recorded a severe resurgence of COVID-19, with daily new confirmed cases reaching 20,000.
On the 7th, the Italian government mandated outdoor mask-wearing nationwide. On the 14th, it banned indoor and outdoor parties and limited the operating hours of restaurants and bars until midnight.
In addition, quarantine measures have been strengthened, including nighttime curfews in regions such as Milan, Campania, Lazio, and Lombardy, where daily new cases exceeded 1,000.
However, as the spread of COVID-19 shows no signs of abating, the government has decided to intensify quarantine measures further. On the 24th, 151 deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in a single day. This is an increase following the highest number in about four months, recorded on the 15th of this month (83 deaths).
From next week, nighttime curfews are expected to be imposed in Piedmont and northern Sicily as well. Due to the rapid spread, temporary patient rooms established during the first wave earlier this year have been reopened. Italian health authorities warned, "The crisis situation is approaching."
However, protests against government lockdown measures due to COVID-19 are erupting in various places. On the 24th (local time), clashes occurred between the far-right group 'Forza Nuova' protesters and police at Rome's Piazza del Popolo, who were protesting COVID-19 regulations.
Having experienced the worst economic recession since the post-war period, they criticized, saying, "The government is using health as an excuse to impose dictatorship," and "Mandating COVID-19 measures such as mask-wearing is a criminal act."
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