The Italian government wants to extend the CoV state of emergency from April 30th to July 31st. The Council of Ministers intends to take this decision at a meeting scheduled for today, according to government circles. Rome first declared the CoV emergency at the end of January 2020. Since then it has been extended several times. Several CoV ordinances are based on this state of emergency.
The measure gives the government special rights. The state can better coordinate emergency services and avoid bureaucratic hurdles. The right-wing opposition party Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy / FdI) has long criticized the approach. In their view, the government’s abundance of power weakens parliament.
Restaurants should open again
The Council of Ministers will also adopt a regulation that will ease the restrictions from Monday. Restaurants should be able to serve customers outdoors again from next week. From June 1, restaurants in yellow regions should be able to keep open from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. – then also indoors.
Cinemas, theaters and concert halls could restart from this date with up to 50 percent of the seats occupied. From June 1st, activities in the interior of sports centers should be offered again, and the opening of congresses, thermal baths and trade fairs is planned for July 1st.
The co-ruling right-wing party Lega submitted a proposal to shorten the curfew from Monday and postpone its start to 11 p.m. This would give restaurant guests more time for dinner. Cinemas could also plan evening performances, argued the Lega. The exit ban introduced in November currently starts at 10 p.m.
