Goodbye to the Green pass, away the obligation of masks even in bars and restaurants
One of the most discussed anti-Covid measures falls, but experts recommend: "We still need caution"
Starting today, the Green pass will become just a distant memory and Italy is beginning to see the way out of the health emergency. The only exception to the QR code will be for entry into the RSA . The change that comes into force will apply to all places where it was mandatory to show the certificate, from restaurants to cinemas.
A new step that - say virologists - must however be taken with caution, also to prevent people waiting for the third dose from not completing the vaccination cycle. The primary objective is to protect the most fragile people , again considering the wide spread of the virus which in the last 24 hours has infected over 53 thousand people and caused the death of another 130 ( here the bulletin in Italy, here the bulletin in Sardinia ).
The recommendations, however, always remain the same, sanitize your hands, keep your distance and avoid crowds.
THE MASK - To this, then, is added the use of the mask which is no longer mandatory outdoors, including stadiums or cultural events . The obligation is also removed in some indoor places, such as bars and restaurants , while in public offices the protective device remains “recommended”, as underlined by the Minister of Public Administration, Renato Brunetta himself.
As for the private sector, however, it will be the task of individual companies to renew or redefine protocols or agreements . The mask obligation will remain, at least until June 15, in local and long-distance public transport , in cinemas , theaters , entertainment and live music venues and for all indoor sports events and competitions . The new regulations also recommend always having the mask ready to be worn in case of crowding, for example in shops or shopping centers. The protective device will also remain mandatory in schools , pending the end of the school year, when even students will finally be able to say goodbye to masks in the classroom.
The next deadline will be June 15 , when Italy will officially say goodbye to masks even indoors. On the same date, the vaccination obligation for over 50s, law enforcement agencies and school workers will cease. On 31 August , on the other hand, smart working will expire, while on 31 December the vaccination obligation for health professionals and workers in hospitals and Rsa will expire. Stop also the compulsory vaccination or swab to visit the RSA.
THE NUMBERS - For at least a month, the curve of Covid-19 cases in Italy has been on a plateau and the numbers of the epidemic continue to be high. Keeping them like this is the Omicron variant with its large family. The latest addition is the sub-variant BA.4, reported in Lombardy and Calabria, and which is added to the other sub-variants in circulation in our country (BA.1, BA.2 and BA.2.3,) and to the recombinants , such as Xf and Xj.
"The battle against Covid is not over yet", said Health Minister Roberto Speranza , who, speaking of masks, noted that "not having an obligation does not mean becoming irresponsible. There are still situations indoors, as well as indoors. 'open, where there may be conditions of gathering ". According to the minister, it is also necessary to insist on vaccinations , especially "third doses and fourth doses to people who already have a recommendation from the health authorities, that is to say the over eighty, those who live in an RSA and to people between 60 and 79 years with particular frailties ".
VACCINES - Vaccines remain a fundamental weapon against serious cases and deaths, as indicated by the data from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Iss), according to which the death rate for Covid-19 is nine times higher in unvaccinated people (36 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants) compared to vaccinated with three doses (4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants) and four times greater than vaccinated with two doses (9 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants). Vaccine protection from severe disease was 72% in vaccinees with a full course less than 90 days , 73% in vaccinates with a full course from 91 to 120 days, and 74% in vaccinates who completed the vaccine course from over 120 days, up to 89% in those vaccinated with the booster dose.
(Unioneonline / D)