84 Cases Of The Omicron Variant Detected, The Italian Government Prepares A Number Of Steps To Anticipate A Spike During The Holidays

Illustration of COVID-19 in Italy. (Wikimedia Commons/Alexmar983)

JAKARTA - The Italian government is considering new measures to avoid a spike in COVID-19 infections over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, local newspapers reported on Sunday, amid concerns over the spread of the highly contagious variant of the Omicron coronavirus.

After holding a meeting with ministers on December 23, Prime Minister Mario Draghi could impose an obligation on those vaccinated to test negative to access crowded places, including discos and stadiums, the daily Corriere della Sera reported.

In addition, negative tests may also be required to enter cinemas and theaters, along with wearing a mask outdoors.

Under current rules, people who have been vaccinated or have recently recovered from an illness have free access to indoor seating at bars and restaurants, museums, cinemas, clubs and sporting events.

"Some measures, such as making masks mandatory even outdoors could be taken immediately," Franco Locatelli, one of the government's top scientific advisers, told the newspaper.

Italy, where vaccination is already mandatory for health workers, school staff, police and military, could extend the mandatory jab for all workers from January, the Corriere della Sera reported.

Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health (ISS) said on Saturday the Omicron variant was spreading rapidly in Italy, with new cases identified in the north and south of the country. A total of 84 infections have so far been identified.

Italy, the first Western country to be hit by the COVID-19 pandemic early last year, has seen a rise in new infections and deaths in recent weeks, but the daily caseload remains well below that of some other European countries such as the UK and Germany.

Please note, earlier this week, Rome extended the COVID-19 state of emergency until March 31 and decided that all visitors from EU countries must take a test before departure.