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Locals were seen gathering at restaurants and cultural sites in Rome on Monday as restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic were eased.
Restaurants and bars were limited to outdoor service only, while archaeological sites and museums were allowed to receive visitors once more, with theatres and cinemas also reopening their doors albeit with capacity limits and social distancing requirements.
One restaurant worker welcomed the move, saying “I hope this is the last lockdown and that they give us the opportunity to always be open. It is the most important thing for the sector.” Another man shared his joy that outdoor dining was back, explaining that he was ‘very happy’ about the opportunity.
The relaxed restrictions apply in most of the country that has now been moved designated as lower infection risk ‘yellow’ zones under the country’s colour coded rules system, with schools also set to reopen and travel once again permitted between ‘yellow’ areas.
However, the wedding industry remains restricted by law, which led to several locals protesting the decision not include them in the reopening phase for now.
Other measures put in place ahead of the Easter holidays, such as a nightly curfew, are set to remain in place, while six of the country’s 20 regions remain classified as medium high risk ‘orange’ zones or high risk ‘red’ zones.
Italy has recently seen a reduction in new coronavirus cases, although its death count remains the second highest in Europe at almost 120,000, with over 17 million people having received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, with 5.2 million fully vaccinated as of Monday according to Italian Health Ministry figures.
SOT, Vincenzo Stasi, Visitor (Italian): “It indicates something very positive for the activities related to the restoration. The economy is reactivated and people can move [between regions]. We leave this situation behind and focus on what Rome can give us. So many people can regain tranquility.”
SOT, Alessandro, Worker at Rnato Al Ghetto restaurant (Italian): “I hope this is the last lockdown and that they give us the opportunity to always be open. It is the most important thing for the sector.”
SOT, Hatmut Pforner, Visitor: “Oh I’m glad, finally. It’s open again. I’m glad it’s open. After I think it was five weeks that is was closed. Finally now I can walk out and have lunch outside in a restaurant instead always staying indoors over lunch. No, I’m very happy about it and I think people are careful.”
SOT, Marcello Reggi, Local (Italian): “Specially there are young people, with the wish to reconnect. There are a lot of people in the restaurants.”
SOT, Marcello Reggi, Local (Italian): “Unfortunately there is an Indian variant that makes us think. Unfortunately for them and for the rest of the world it seems that it is already manifesting. We have to see the glass half full better than half empty.”
SOT, Simone Massenga, Protester (Italian): “In a restaurant 100 people can be eating seated and distanced. Why can’t the same people attending a wedding be at the same distance? That is our question.”
#Italy #Rome #COVID
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