On January 30, 2020, following the reporting by China (December 31, 2019) of a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown etiology (later identified as a new Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus) in the city of Wuhan, the World Organization of Health (WHO) has declared the coronavirus epidemic in China a public health emergency of international interest. The following day the Italian government, after the first precautionary measures adopted starting from 22 January, taking into account the particularly widespread nature of the epidemic, proclaimed the state of emergency and implemented the first measures to contain the contagion throughout the national territory .
“Since January, when we had just two cases – President Conte said in a message released on his social channels on March 4 – we immediately put in place measures that appeared drastic, but that in reality were simply adequate and proportionate to protect the health of citizens, to limit the spread of the infection. We have always acted on the basis of the evaluations of the technical-scientific committee, always choosing the line of transparency, the line of truth, determined not to feed distrust and conspiracy. Truth is the antidote, transparency the first vaccine to equip ourselves with.”
June 15, 2020
The Council of Ministers, on a proposal from the Minister of Economy and Finance Roberto Gualtieri and the Minister of Labor and Social Policies Nunzia Catalfo, approved a decree-law that introduces further urgent measures regarding the treatment of wage integration.
June 11, 2020
The Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, has signed the Dpcm which authorizes the resumption of further activities starting from 15 June including: summer centers for children, game rooms, betting rooms, bingo rooms, as well as the activities of wellness centers, spas, cultural and social centers. In addition, the shows open to the public, theaters, concert halls, cinemas and other open spaces also resume, but with some cautions / precautions. On the other hand, all activities that take place in dance halls, discos and similar establishments, both outdoors and indoors, are suspended. Starting from 12 June, sports events and competitions will resume behind closed doors or outdoors without the presence of the public in compliance with the safety protocols issued by the respective sports federations in order to prevent contagion opportunities. Starting from 25 June 2020, contact sports can also be carried out in the Regions and Autonomous Provinces which, in agreement with the Ministry of Health and the Delegated Government Authority on sports, have previously ascertained the compatibility of the aforementioned activities with the trend of the epidemiological situation in the respective territories.
June 9, 2020
The Committee of Experts in Economic and Social Matters presented the report “Initiatives for the relaunch” Italy 2020-2022 “to the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte.
June 3, 2020
The Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, held a press conference at Palazzo Chigi on the reopening of interregional travel.
May 21, 2020
President Conte gave urgent information to the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate on the measures for the new phase related to the epidemiological emergency from Covid-19.
May 16, 2020
The Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, illustrated the measures contained in the Dpcm implementing the Decree-law of 16 May 2020, n. 33, in force from Monday 18 May.
May 15, 2020
The Council of Ministers n. 46 approved a decree-law which introduces further urgent measures to deal with the epidemiological emergency from COVID-19. The decree outlines the national regulatory framework within which, from 18 May to 31 July 2020, with specific decrees or ordinances, state, regional or municipal, the movement of natural persons and the methods of carrying out economic activities may be governed, productive and social.
May 13, 2020
The Council of Ministers n. 45 approved the decree-law “Relaunch”. President Conte illustrated the provision in a press conference with Ministers Gualtieri, Speranza, Patuanelli and Bellanova.
May 12, 2020
In order to ensure gender representation, President Conte integrated the Committee of experts headed by Vittorio Colao with five women, in addition to the four already present. Similarly, the Head of Civil Protection Borrelli will integrate the technical-scientific committee with six other personalities.
May 9, 2020
The Council of Ministers n. 44 approved a decree-law which introduces urgent measures in relation to the implementation of a seroprevalence investigation on SARS-COV-2 conducted by the Ministry of Health and ISTAT. In addition, a decree-law has been adopted that introduces urgent measures on the subject of home detention or deferment of the execution of the sentence, as well as on the replacement of pre-trial detention in prison with the measure of house arrest, for reasons related to the health emergency due to COVID-19, of persons detained or interned for organized crime of a mafia or terrorist type or for crimes of association associated with the trafficking of narcotic substances or for crimes committed using the conditions or in order to facilitate the mafia association, as well as of detainees and internees subject to the regime provided for by article 41-bis of the law of 26 July 1975, n. 354, as well as, finally, on the matter of interviews with relatives or other persons to whom the condemned, interned and accused persons are entitled.
May 7, 2020
The Protocol between the CEI and the Italian Government has been signed at Palazzo Chigi which will allow the resumption of celebrations with the people, in conditions of maximum security for the ecclesial community.
The president of the CEI, Gualtiero Bassetti, the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte and the Minister of the Interior, Luciana Lamorgese were present. The Protocol will enter into force on Monday 18 May.
April 30, 2020
President Conte made an urgent report to the Chamber and to the Senate on the government’s initiatives for the recovery of economic activities.
April 29, 2020
The Council of Ministers n. 43 approved a decree-law introducing urgent measures for the functionality of the interception systems of conversations and communications, further urgent measures in the matter of penitentiary regulations, as well as supplementary and coordination provisions in the field of civil, administrative and accounting justice, and urgent provisions regarding the protection of personal data in the tracking of contacts and contagions from COVID-19.
April 28, 2020
The Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, was in Lodi, Piacenza and Cremona to meet representatives of institutions and the health sector. At the end of the meetings he released statements to the press.
April 27, 2020
The Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, was visiting in Milan, Bergamo and Brescia where he met representatives of institutions and the health sector.
April 26, 2020
President Conte announced announced at a press conference the measures for the containment of the Covid-19 emergency in the so-called “phase two” introduced with Dpcm April 26, 2020.
April 24, 2020
The Council of Ministers n. 42 approved the Economic and Financial Document (DEF) 2020 and the Report to Parliament drawn up pursuant to article 6 of the law of 24 December 2012, no. 243, to be presented to the Chambers, for the purposes of authorizing the update of the return plan towards the medium-term objective (OMT). In the European context, on 20 March last the European Commission ordered the application of the so-called general escape clause for the current year, in order to ensure that the Member States have the necessary space for fiscal maneuver, within their own budget, to the support of the healthcare costs necessary to face the epidemiological emergency and to counter the recessive economic effects of the spread of COVID-19. The application of the clause allows Member States to temporarily deviate from the adjustment path towards the MTO, provided that fiscal sustainability in the medium term is not compromised. With the report, after consulting the European Commission, the Government therefore requests the authorization of Parliament to resort to debt for the year 2020 of 55 billion euros, 24.85 billion euros in 2021, 32.75 billion euros in 2022, 33.05 billion in 2023, 33.15 billion euro in 2024, 33.25 billion euro from 2025 to 2031 and 29.2 billion euro from 2032.
April 21, 2020
The Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, gave the Senate and then the Chamber of Deputies an information on the recent government initiatives to deal with the Covid-19 emergency.
April 20, 2020
The Council of Ministers n. 41, in consideration of the evolution of the emergency context and in order to allow the continuation of the foreseen interventions (purchase of personal protective equipment, medical equipment and any kind of instrumental good useful to counter the emergency, as well as the expansion of the temporary and definitive hospitals intended for the treatment of patients with coronavirus), has approved a further allocation for a total of € 900,000,000 in favor of the extraordinary Commissioner for the Covid-19 emergency out of the Fund for national emergencies.
A decree-law has also been approved that introduces urgent provisions on election consultations for the year 2020, in consideration of the health emergency from COVID-19.
April 10, 2020
The Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, announced at the press conference that he had signed the new dpcm with which the restrictive measures adopted so far to contain the epidemiological emergency from Covid-19 are extended until May 3. With the new Dpcm, starting from April 14, however, the opening of stationery shops, bookshops and clothing stores for children and babies will be allowed and forestry and the wood industry are included among the production activities allowed.
As for the so-called “phase 2”, the President stated that the government is already working to restart the production system through an articulated program that rests on two pillars: the establishment of a working group of experts and the protocol safety in the workplace. The Committee, led by Vittorio Colao and composed of experts in economic and social matters, will have the task, in consultation with the Technical-scientific Committee, to develop the necessary measures for a gradual recovery in the various sectors of social, economic and productive activities, also through the identification of new organizational and relational models, which take into account the needs of containment and emergency prevention.
April 6, 2020
The Council of Ministers approved a decree-law which introduces urgent measures regarding access to credit and postponement of obligations for companies, as well as special powers in the sectors of strategic importance and justice. The decree intervenes in support of companies in difficulty with specific measures on five main areas: access to credit, support for liquidity, exports, internationalization and investments; measures to ensure business continuity; strengthening of special powers in areas of strategic importance and financial transparency obligations; tax and accounting measures; further provisions.
Furthermore, on the proposal of the Minister of Education and the Minister of University and Research, a decree-law was approved which introduces urgent measures on the regular conclusion and orderly start of the school year and on the conduct of state exams. The rules govern, with temporally effective tools, all complex operations relating to the closure of the school year 2019/2020 and the start of the school year 2020/2021, taking into account the situation that arose following the health emergency and any extension of the period of suspension of the teaching activity carried out “in attendance” beyond 18 May 2020. In relation to the critical issues that emerged in the continuation of the practical training activities or internships in the university environment, exceptional measures are adopted for the performance of State exams for the exercise of the professions, for which the training activity in question constitutes a condition of admission.
At the end of the meeting, President Conte and Ministers Gualtieri (Economy and Finance), Patuanelli (Economic Development) and Azzolina (Education) illustrated the measures at a press conference.
April 1, 2020
The Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, announced at the press conference that he had signed the Dpcm which extends until 13 April 2020 the measures adopted so far for the containment of the epidemiological contagion from Covid-19.
March 28, 2020
The Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, held a press conference at Palazzo Chigi with the Minister of Economy and Finance, Roberto Gualtieri and, via video link, the President of the Anci, Antonio Decaro. In order to support the municipalities affected by the epidemiological emergency from the Covid 19 virus, the Dpcm was signed which anticipates the disbursement of 4.3 billion of the municipal solidarity fund. In addition, another 400 million are made available by an order of the Head of the Civil Protection Department for emergency food solidarity measures.
March 25, 2020
The Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, spoke to the Chamber of Deputies for information on the Cov emergency.
March 24, 2020
The Council of Ministers n. 38 approved a decree-law (Decree-law of 25 March 2020, n. 19 published in the Official General Series n.79 of 25/03/2020) which introduces urgent measures to deal with the epidemiological emergency from COVID-19. The decree provides that, in order to contain and contrast health risks and the spread of contagion, they can be adopted, on specific parts of the national territory or on the whole of it, for predetermined periods, each lasting no more than thirty days, reiterable and can also be modified several times until the end of the state of emergency, set at 31 July 2020 by the resolution taken by the Council of Ministers of 31 January 2020, one or more of the measures provided for by the decree itself. The application of the measures may be modulated up or down according to the epidemiological trend of the aforementioned virus, one or more of the measures provided for by the decree itself, according to specific adequacy criteria and principles of proportionality to the risk actually present. At the end of the meeting, President Conte illustrated the decree-law in a press conference.
March 22, 2020
A new ordinance has been adopted jointly by the Minister of Health and by the Minister of the Interior which prohibits all natural persons from moving or moving with public or private means of transport in a municipality other than that in which they are located, except for proven work needs, of absolute urgency or for health reasons.
In the evening the President Conte signed the Dpcm containing new ones for the containment of the contagion on the whole national territory, announced the previous evening. The provision provides for the closure of non-essential or strategic production activities. Open groceries, pharmacies, basic necessities shops and essential services. The provisions have effect from March 23, 2020 and are effective until April 3, 2020. The same apply, cumulatively, to those referred to in the Prime Minister’s decree of March 11, 2020, as well as to those provided for by the Minister of Health of March 20, 2020 whose terms of effectiveness, already set for March 25, 2020, are both extended to April 3, 2020.
March 20, 2020
The Minister of Health has signed the order prohibiting: public access to parks, villas, play areas and public gardens; to carry out recreational or outdoor activities. It is permitted to carry out individual motor activities in the vicinity of one’s home, provided that, in any case, respecting the distance of at least one meter from each other person. The ordinance also requires the closure of the food and drink administration establishments, located inside the railway and lake stations, as well as in the service and refueling areas, with the exception of those located along the highways, which can only sell products from takeaway to be consumed outside the premises; those located in hospitals and airports remain open, with the obligation to ensure compliance with the interpersonal distance of at least one meter in any case. On holidays and pre-holidays, as well as on those that immediately precede or follow these days, any movement to homes other than the main one, including the second houses used for holidays, is prohibited. The provisions of this ordinance take effect from March 21 and are effective until March 25, 2020.
March 19, 2020
The Presidency of the Council of Ministers, in concert with the Civil Protection and on the proposal of the Minister for Regional Affairs Francesco Boccia, has in fact decided to create a task force of doctors from all over Italy to be able to send to the territories with the major health issues. In this regard, the Head of Civil Protection signed an order, which was sent to the Regions for the agreement. The task force will count to a maximum of 300 doctors, with participation on a voluntary basis. The staff, selected to meet the most requested needs, will work to support regional health structures. From 20 March it is possible to send your candidacy (the announcement).
March 16, 2020
The Council of Ministers n. 37 approved the #CuraItalia Decree, containing the new measures to support families, workers and businesses to combat the effects of the coronavirus emergency on the economy. At the end of the meeting, President Conte, the Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Nunzia Catalfo, and the Minister of Economy and Finance, Roberto Gualtieri, illustrated the provision in a press conference.
March 14, 2020
The videoconference took place in Palazzo Chigi between the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, the competent ministers and the social partners. During the meeting, the safety protocol in the workplace was signed between trade unions and trade associations.
March 11, 2020
In order to further strengthen the support provided for the health system, for citizens and businesses and to increase resources for civil protection and security, the Council of Ministers no. 36 approved an addition to the report to Parliament for 2020 (compared to that approved on March 5) for further recourse to debt. Considering the total amount for which the authorization of the Chambers is requested, the net balance to be financed of the state budget may increase up to 104.5 billion euros in 2020 in terms of competence and 154 billion euros in cash , with an increase in appropriations of up to 25 billion both in terms of competence and in terms of cash. At the end of the meeting of the Council of Ministers, President Conte held a press conference with the Minister of Economy and Finance, Roberto Gualtieri, and the Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Nunzia Catalfo.
In the evening, President Conte signed the new Dpcm containing further measures regarding the containment and management of the epidemiological emergency from COVID-19 on the whole national territory. In a video, the President announced the closure of all commercial and retail activities, with the exception of grocery stores, basic necessities, pharmacies and parapharmacies.
March 10, 2020
Published the answer to the frequently asked questions (FAQ) on the measures contained in the decree #IoRestoaCasa (dpcm 9 March 2020). The section is constantly updated.
President Conte met with representatives of the opposition forces at Palazzo Chigi. The theme of the meeting was the measures to counter the Coronavirus emergency.
March 9, 2020
The Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, signed the Prime Ministerial Decree of 9 March 2020 containing new measures for the containment and contrast of the spread of the Covid-19 virus throughout the national territory. The provision extends the measures referred to in art. 1 of the Dpcm 8 March 2020 to the whole national territory. It is also forbidden to gather people in public places or open to the public. Lastly, the letter d of article 1 of the Presidential Decree of 8 March 2020 relating to sporting events and manifestations has been modified. These provisions take effect from March 10, 2020 and are effective until April 3, 2020. In the evening, the President illustrated the decree at a press conference.
March 8, 2020
The Prime Minister Conte has signed a new Dpcm which provides, in implementation of the decree-law of 23 February 2020, n. 6, further measures for the containment and management of the epidemiological emergency from COVID-19 on the whole national territory. The President illustrated the provision in a press conference. With the entry into force (8 March 2020) of the Dpcm, the decrees of the Prime Minister of 1 March and 4 March 2020 cease to produce effects.
More specifically, art. 1 of the new Prime Ministerial Decree provides for the creation of a single area, including the territory of the Lombardy Region and 14 other Provinces (five from Emilia-Romagna, five from Piedmont, three from Veneto and one from the Marche). Within this area, the application of reinforced measures to contain the infection is envisaged in light of the epidemiological dynamic that has developed in the last few days. Article. 2 of the provides for the restatement of the measures to contrast the epidemic, subject to uniform application on the rest of the national territory.
With reference to the Presidential Decree of 8 March 2020, the Minister of the Interior Luciana Lamorgese has adopted the directive for the prefects for the implementation of controls in the “reinforced containment areas” which provides for: the immediate convening, even remotely, of the provincial committees for the public order and safety, for taking the necessary coordination measures; specific indications for controls relating to the limitation of movements of natural persons entering and leaving and within the territories “with enhanced containment”.
March 6, 2020
The Council of Ministers n. 35 has approved a decree-law which introduces extraordinary and urgent measures to counter the epidemiological emergency from COVID-19, contain the negative effects on the conduct of judicial activity and for the strengthening of the National Health Service. Subsequently, Minister Bonafede illustrated the measure at a press conference.
March 5, 2020
The Council of Ministers approved the “Report to Parliament for 2020”, drafted in accordance with article 6 of the law of 24 December 2012, no. 243, to be presented to the Chambers, for the purposes of authorizing the update of the return plan towards the medium-term objective (OMT) with respect to that already authorized with the Report to Parliament 2019, attached to the Economic Document Update Note and finance 2019.
The deviation from the MTO already indicated is necessary in relation to the immediate, extraordinary and urgent initiatives that the Government intends to take to address the relevant health and socio-economic needs in relation to the state of emergency declared for dissemination of the COVID-19 virus. At the end, the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte and the Minister of Economy and Finance, Roberto Gualtieri, held a press conference.
March 4, 2020
The meeting tables between the Government and representatives of social partners and local bodies regarding the management of the Coronavirus emergency were held at Palazzo Chigi. In the afternoon, President Conte and the Minister of Education, Lucia Azzolina, announced the suspension throughout Italy of educational activities in schools and universities from 5 to 15 March in order to contain the epi contagion. The relative Dpcm containing further measures for the contrast and containment throughout the national territory of the spread of the COVID-19 virus was signed in the evening.
March 3, 2020
The Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, in the afternoon met with the heads of delegation of the majority parties at Palazzo Chigi. In the evening the meeting with the majority and opposition group leaders. In addition to the President, Ministers Luigi Di Maio (Foreign), Federico D’Incà (Relations with Parliament and Reforms), Alfonso Bonafede (Justice), Teresa Bellanova (Agricultural food and forestry policies), Dario Franceschini (Goods and activities cultural and tourism) and Undersecretary Riccardo Fraccaro.
March 1, 2020
The President Conte signed, in implementation of the decree-law 23 February 2020, n. 6, a new Dpcm that incorporates and extends some of the measures already adopted for the containment and management of the epidemiological emergency from COVID-19 and introduces further, aimed at regulating the framework of interventions in a unified way and ensuring uniformity throughout the territory national implementation of prophylaxis programs.
With the entry into force of this Dpcm, the validity of all the previous ones, adopted in implementation of the decree-law 3 February 2020, n. 6.
February 28, 2020
The Council of Ministers approved the decree-law containing “Urgent support measures for families, workers and businesses related to the epidemiological emergency from COVID-19”. Before the beginning of the meeting, the Minister of Economy and Finance Gualtieri, Roberto Gualtieri, illustrated the provision in a press conference.
February 25, 2020
In the morning, Conte chaired a meeting with the Ministers, the Presidents of the Regions and the technicians of the Ministry of Health at the Civil Protection headquarters to coordinate the actions in order to better face the emergency. At the end he held a press conference.
Also on the 25th, the President adopted his own decree introducing new measures, compared to those already taken on 23 February, aimed at contrasting and preventing the further spread of the COVID-19 virus. These are measures regarding the conduct of sporting events of all types and disciplines, the organization of school activities and higher education, health prevention at prisons, regulation of how to access driving exams, organization of activities cultural and tourism.
February 24, 2020
The Minister of Economy and Finance, Roberto Gualtieri, signed the ministerial decree which intervenes on the obligations of taxpayers residing in the Municipalities of the so-called “red zone” identified by attachment 1 of the Dpcm 23 February 2020.
February 23, 2020
Following the outbreaks registered in Lombardy and Veneto, and after a meeting of the Operating Committee at the headquarters of the Civil Protection Department, the Council of Ministers, on the proposal of President Conte, approved a decree-law introducing urgent containment measures and management of the epidemiological emergency from COVID-2019. The decree intervenes organically, in the current international health emergency situation declared by the World Health Organization, in order to prevent and contrast the further transmission of the virus.
In the evening, the President Conte therefore signed the Prime Ministerial Decree of 23 February 2020 to implement the provisions of Legislative Decree 6/2020 for the Municipalities of the Lombardy and Veneto Regions affected by the measures to contain the contagion from Coronavirus.
February 21, 2020
The Ministry of Health has released the press release n. 85 Covid-19: “New mandatory quarantine measures and active surveillance” containing a new ordinance by the Minister of Hope which provides for mandatory quarantine isolation measures for close contacts with a positive case, and provides active surveillance with fiduciary home permanence for those who has been in risk areas for the past 14 days, with reporting obligation on the part of the person concerned to the local health authorities.
February 10, 2020
The inter-ministerial meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, was held on 10 February in Palazzo Chigi for an update on the health risk associated with the coronavirus and on all the various implications related to the emergency, especially on the economic and tourism front.
February 8, 2020
On the basis of the indications made available by the Scientific Technical Committee established by the Extraordinary Commissioner of Civil Protection, the Ministry of Health has updated the circular dated 01/02/2020 which contained “Indications for the management of students and teachers returning or leaving for affected areas of China. ” In the face of the increase in the level of diffusion of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus in China, the updating of the circular is inspired, consistently with all previous Ministry measures, to the principle of maximum precaution.
February 6, 2020
President Conte chaired a meeting of the Civil Protection Operational Committee in Rome. At the end he held a press point during which he thanked all the Civil Protection volunteers who in a few hours of service monitored and controlled over 62,000 passengers and 521 international flights.
February 4, 2020
After the meeting of the task force of the Ministry of Health, it was decided, together with the Civil Protection, to significantly strengthen the controls and medical and health personnel in all airports and ports. In Rome Fiumicino, health corridors and thermal scanners have been activated on all arrivals. Furthermore, at the meeting of the task force on 7 February it was confirmed that the flights between Italy and China will remain closed as foreseen by the order signed by Minister Speranza on 31 January 2020 and that work will continue to implement the measures already activated in the last weeks.
February 3, 2020
Following the declaration of the state of emergency, the Head of the Department of Civil Protection, Angelo Borrelli, signed the ordinance governing the first urgent interventions relating to “the health risk associated with the onset of diseases deriving from transmissible viral agents”. The provision entrusts the Head of the Civil Protection Department with the coordination of the necessary interventions to face the emergency on the national territory and the realization of the rescue and assistance interventions for the population concerned, the strengthening of controls in the airport and port areas, in continuity with the urgent measures already adopted by the Ministry of Health, as well as activities for the return of people present in countries at risk and the return of foreign citizens to the countries of origin exposed to the risk.
February 1 2020
The Operating Committee has returned to meet in order to evaluate all the operational scenarios related to the current level of spread of the virus and to prepare the measures to be adopted in the very short term, in particular as regards air and maritime traffic.
These include the increase in health checks in ports as well, with the extension of a procedure hitherto envisaged only for non-EU vessels, “free medical practice”, to all merchant and cruise ships in transit, and l use of thermal scanners at airports, to monitor the health of passengers on flights coming from China through intermediate stopovers.
After the suspension of flights from China, the Farnesina has decided to set up a special operating unit – under the coordination of the Crisis Unit – with the Ministries of Health, Infrastructures and with the ENAC to facilitate all the related procedures to Italians in China, to Chinese temporarily present in Italy, to the management of freight traffic. Following the meeting of February 1, 2020, in coordination with the Civil Protection operational committee, the possibility of carrying out cargo cargo flights between Italy and China was reactivated.
January 31
As announced by President Conte at the press conference, the Council of Ministers met in Palazzo Chigi and approved the allocation of the funds necessary for the implementation of the precautionary measures following the declaration of the “International public health emergency” by the WHO and the state of emergency was resolved, for a period of six months, as required by current legislation, in order to allow the issuance of the necessary Civil Protection orders.
In the afternoon, President Conte then chaired a meeting of the Civil Protection Operational Committee in Rome to coordinate actions to protect citizens’ health in the context of the coronavirus emergency. At the end of which he held a press point with the Minister of Health Hope.
January 30, 2020
Following the declaration of the international state of emergency by the WHO, the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, and the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, with the Scientific Director of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, Giovanni Ippolito, held a press conference to take stock of the precautionary measures taken in Italy.
During the conference, President Conte confirmed the first two cases of contagion found in Italy: these are two Chinese tourists, immediately hospitalized in isolation at the INMI Lazzaro Spallanzani in Rome.
The President recalled that, from the early stages of the epidemic, inspired by the precautionary principle, airport controls were implemented in Italy for citizens coming from the area where the epidemic outbreak occurred and accurate control measures were implemented – body temperature measurement, identification and isolation of patients, procedures for tracing and quarantine close contacts – which, together with an efficient epidemiological and microbiological surveillance system, guarantee the rapid containment of any cases. In addition, a Task Force was established at the Ministry of Health to coordinate, in continuous connection with the competent international institutions, all the control actions to be taken in order to limit the spread of the virus and verify its compliance with the WHO recommendations.
The President then declared that, on the orders of the national health authorities, all flights to and from China – in addition to those from Wuhan, already suspended by the Chinese authorities – were suspended and reassured that the situation is under control and that the measures taken are precautionary and place Italy at the highest level of caution on an international level.
The article relies on the information provided by the Official Website of Italian Government.
The Foreign Policy Council 