PM Draghi Says Italy Will Relax COVID-19 Restrictions

Illustration of COVID-19 of Italy. (Wikimedia Commons/Civil Protection Department)

JAKARTA - Italy will soon announce a timetable for ending COVID-19 restrictions, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Wednesday, as the spike in cases triggered by the highly contagious variant of Omicron begins to slow.

Italy has recorded more than 147,000 coronavirus-related deaths and 11.23 million infections since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world two years ago.

Many restrictions, including restrictions on transportation, bars, and restaurants, have been relaxed for those vaccinated, while strict restrictions remain in place for those who are not injected. The use of masks must be done outdoors.

"In the coming weeks, we will continue on this path of reopening. Based on scientific evidence. We will announce a timetable for lifting the current restrictions," Draghi was quoted as saying by his office at a cabinet meeting.

The Italian Government's COVID-19 vaccination campaign has been widely successful, with more than 80 percent of people having received two injections, while more than 57 percent have received a third booster dose.

PM Draghi said the validity of the COVID-19 health card, showing a person was vaccinated or recently recovered from the disease, would be open to those who got the third dose. This card is required to gain access to most activities.

To note, the Italian Government had previously moved on Wednesday to relax quarantine rules at schools, for students who had received the COVID-19 vaccination.

However, signaling continued friction in the coalition, ministers from the far-right League party refused to take part in the final vote. A-League minister said the party opposed acts that discriminated against unvaccinated children.