Drastic measures by Italian government provoke protest: “This is an exaggeration”
The decision of the Italian government to partially quarantine the entire Lombardy region and fourteen nearby provinces provoked protests. Some mayors of affected cities regard the measures as too strict. They fear that the economy in Northern Italy will be brought to a complete halt.
The government’s decision to also put Padua, Treviso, and Venice in quarantine because of the corona outbreak, finds local politicians “exaggerated”. The number of new infections does not justify such a drastic measure, they believe.
The mayor of the city of Asti in Piedmont, Maurizio Rasero, has stated that the situation in his province is under control. The government’s decision to extend the “red zone” to its territory is “completely unjustified.” He says he is flooded with hundreds of phone calls from concerned citizens who fear that they will no longer be able to leave the region.
On the Facebook pages of the communities affected by the measure, there is criticism from citizens who are afraid of the impact of the restrictions imposed on their daily lives. Many fear that their jobs – for example, in the tourism and culture sectors – will be jeopardized. The logistics sector and the transport industry are also not worried about this because of the drastic restrictions.
After all, the mobility of around 16 million people
In addition to Lombardy, this includes the provinces of Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Rimini, Pesaro and Urbino, Alessandria, Asti, Novara, Verbano Cusio Ossola, Vercelli, Padua, Treviso and Venice.
Thousands of people tried to get away from the area by train and bus last night. They feared otherwise they would not leave and want to travel to regions in Central or Southern Italy, but not all regions see people who like to come. For example, the administration of Apulia – in the boot of Italy – has decided that anyone who arrives from north of Italy must be in quarantine for two weeks.
The first roadblocks have now surfaced in northern Italy. The police have closed roads to the corona area.
People in the region are still allowed to leave their homes, although it is advised to stay inside as much as possible. Traveling to and from the other areas and countries is still permitted, but only under strict conditions.
