Covid Italy, Hope: “Contagions rise, we need the green pass”

“The contagion curve is rising. We need the green pass. Extend the state of emergency? We will decide close to the deadline”. Roberto Speranza, Minister of Health, in half an hour more answers the questions on the current situation of the pandemic, on the measures adopted and on those which – such as the state of emergency – are due to expire at the end of the year but could be extended in case of need. “I believe that the data of other European countries must make us reflect and keep our attention high. There is a starting point that proves our strategy right: we are 86.3% of people vaccinated with one dose and almost at 83% with the full cycle, “says Speranza. “Data from every corner of the world tell us that the situation is more manageable in terms of infections and above all hospitalizations where vaccination rates are very high. Attention must be kept high, with masks indoors and even outdoors when there is the risk of crowding. We must use the essential rules that we have learned in recent months, but a high vaccination rate protects us from the dramatic images we see arriving from some Eastern European countries. the vaccine will accompany us, but it must be combined with precautionary measures “, he adds.” If they had told me that at the end of October we would have found ourselves with 86.5% of the population vaccinated with a dose I would have been very happy. we still have to go up, 90% is a goal within our reach, very ambitious but not impossible. The strategy of using the green pass has allowed us to achieve important results “, he says, before underlining that” the green pass at this time is fundamental, in a totally different epidemiological framework we will make the necessary assessments. But we are not at a time when the curve is lowering, especially with the arrival of the autumn and winter phase. The numbers of Italy are much lower than those of other European countries but they are growing numbers. Right now we need the green pass. “The state of emergency expires on December 31: will it be extended?” As a government we have always decided to make this type of choices immediately before the deadline, 60 days is too long a period to say what we will do. We will rely on scientific evidence: if it is still necessary to have the legislative and intervention system of the state of emergency we will decide it in the days immediately preceding the deadline, we will have no fear of extending it as has been done at other times. At this moment, 60 days after the deadline, it dates back. In Italy it dates back to a lesser extent than in other countries “. Protests against the green pass are almost daily:” I have seen images in the last few hours that have shocked me, demonstrations that recall concentration camps are beyond all grace of God ” , says Speranza. “To speak of health dictatorship means to use a word that should be used with extreme caution and prudence in a totally inappropriate way”.