Italy will be locked up for Easter as the country struggles to contain COVID-19 cases.
From Monday, Italians must stay at home in the most populous regions, except for work, health or other essential reasons.
The whole country is locked up for the second consecutive year on the Easter weekend from 3 to 3 April.
Cases have increased by more than 25,000 a day in the country over the past six weeks as Italy’s vaccination campaign is hit by delays.
Officials warn that they are rapidly losing ground in the fight against new, highly contagious variants.
Only 3 percent of the country is vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
“Italy gives about 170,000 doses a day – our goal is to triple that,” Prime Minister Mario Draghi said.
“It is only with widespread vaccinations that we can do without restrictions as we had to adopt.”
More than 100,000 Italians have died from coronavirus complications, the second highest toll in Europe after the United Kingdom.
Unlike last year, when Italy became the first western province to apply a nationwide exclusion, officials will allow limited visits to friends and family during the Easter holidays.
Pope Francis’ Passover vigil is likely to be held earlier so worshipers can follow a curfew.
Italians in non-essential positions were also ordered to stay indoors during most of the Christmas and New Year holidays.
“I hope this will be the last sacrifice of our citizens,” said Lombardy President Attilio Fontana.
Italian health officials have approved Johnson & Johnson’s single vaccine. The doses will be delivered within a month, which according to leaders will help the efforts to stem the boom.
With Post threads