In Italy we are witnessing a slow decline in Covid cases, good news on which, however, the great unknown factor in autumn weighs, with the scientific community evaluating a new possible vaccination recall in the autumn. "It will be a delicate and difficult moment for which a new vaccination dose will be needed for everyone - said Walter Ricciardi, consultant to the Minister of Health - it is hoped to have comprehensive vaccines".

And in this wake, immediately after Easter, the hypothesis of extending the use of indoor masks, now mandatory until 30 April, is being considered.

"They are a fundamental garrison - said Health Minister Roberto Speranza - after Easter we will make an evaluation and decide on their use". The president of the Higher Health Council, Franco Locatelli, also thinks so, who recommends their use in contexts such as public transport, cinema and theater. For the director of Infectious Diseases of the San Martino di Genova Matteo Bassetti, however, "it is necessary to remove the obligation to close from 1 May".

INFECTIONS - According to what the Gimbe Foundation notes in its weekly monitoring, at a national level there is a -6.5% of new infections in the last 7 days (even if the epidemiological situation on the island worsens ). A trend that, however, always on a national basis does not translate into pressure on hospitals where ordinary hospitalizations (-0.4%) and intensive care (-1.7%) are stable. Deaths returned below one thousand (929) in the last seven days (-11.4%). However, although the indicators "certify a plateau phase - says Gimbe president Nino Cartabellotta - the circulation of Sars-CoV-2 is still very high". Hence the call for caution for this holiday period.

VACCINES - On the vaccination front, on the one hand the share of new vaccinates continues to drop (-12.1%), on the other hand the phase of the fourth dose for over 80 and frail over 60 has started with the first administrations in Lombardy and reservations in Lazio and Trentino.

Meanwhile, the WHO publishes 11 updated recommendations including that of vaccinating 70% of the population by July and at the same time also proposing to lift the international traffic bans because they are ineffective against the Omicron variant. This variant in Italy, according to the Flash survey conducted on 4 April by the Higher Institute of Health and the Ministry of Health, is 100%, with the BA.2 sub-variant dominant.

(Unioneonline / D)

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