If Omicron "turns off" these holidays a little by putting Italians on a sort of probation, we cannot fail to remember Christmas 2020, when the whole country was in the red zone.
In short, the virus has not gone completely but with the vaccination campaign the differences between the two holiday periods are many.
Today preparations are underway for the Christmas Eve dinner, we can exchange greetings with friends in the squares and pubs, we can opt for dinner at the restaurant and go to the cinema to see Christmas comedies. We can move from one side of the country to the other to visit our relatives.
On 24 December 2020, any movement in and out of their region was prohibited throughout Italy. Most of the shops were closed, as were gyms, cinemas, theaters and discos. The whole country was in the red zone, today it is in the white or yellow zone with the shopping going on at full speed, without curfew.
Yesterday the Council of Ministers, on the day of the absolute record of daily infections since the beginning of the pandemic (44,595), launched a decree with new even more restrictive measures especially for unvaccinated people, who among other things will no longer be able to consume even a coffee at the counter.
Below, in detail, all the measures.
PARTIES AND DISCOS - Until January 31, events and parties that involve gatherings in the open are prohibited. A measure that also serves to standardize the rules throughout Italy, given that some regions and mayors had already moved in this direction. And which effectively cancels the rich program of events for the New Year's Eve in Alghero.
They close, again and until January 31, "dance halls, discos and similar places". The managers are on a rampage over a measure that "cancels a sector" in which 200,000 people work.
MASKS - Always mandatory outdoors, even in the white area. The obligation of Ffp2, devices with greater filtering power, is introduced in certain situations: cinemas, theaters, indoor and outdoor sporting events, means of transport, including Tpl. Given the introduction of the obligation, controlled prices are also evaluated for this type of masks.
ENHANCED GREEN PASS - The obligation of the super Green pass is extended (the one without a buffer, to be clear, only for people recovered or vaccinated) to access some activities. A measure that further excludes the unvaccinated from social life.
Until now it was only mandatory to sit at tables in bars and restaurants indoors, to go to the cinema and in stadiums.
The obligation (which excludes under 12s and subjects exempted from the vaccination campaign) is extended to: swimming pools, gyms and team sports; museums and exhibitions; consumption at the counter in the restaurant business; indoor wellness centers and spas; theme and amusement parks; cultural, social and recreational centers; game rooms, betting rooms, bingo halls and casinos.
It is also forbidden to consume food and drinks indoors in cinemas, theaters and at sporting events.
VALIDITY OF THE CERTIFICATE - From February 1st the validity period of the Green pass is further reduced, from nine to six months.
THIRD DOSE - By order of the Minister of Health which will soon arrive, the minimum period for the administration of the third dose will be reduced from 5 to 4 months after the completion of the primary vaccination cycle.
RSA - To enter the RSA you must be vaccinated with a booster dose or, alternatively, for those who have completed the primary vaccination cycle, present with the negative result of a swab.
SCHOOL - To "ensure the identification and tracing of positive cases in schools", the Ministry of Defense "ensures support to regions and autonomous provinces in carrying out test administration activities" for the research of Covid and in the operations of " analysis and reporting through the military laboratories "present in the area. This is the step to avoid an extension of the Christmas holidays for students and to allow them to return to school in the greatest possible safety.
CHECKS IN PORTS AND AIRPORTS - “The maritime, air and border health offices” carry out, even on a sample basis, at the airports, sea and land, antigenic or molecular tests of travelers entering Italy.
(Unioneonline / L)