France from today, Thursday 18 June 2021, has abolished the obligation to use masks outdoors. And Italy could decide to do it from next July 15, if the positive trend of infections and other parameters linked to the relegation of the pandemic continues. The fuse was triggered by the Undersecretary for Health Pierpaolo Sileri, who however underlines that the mask must always be kept in the pocket, available: «It will be like with eyeglasses to read closely that you always carry in your pocket - explains Sileri — all the studies tell us that in an epidemiological situation under control such as in Italy, the possibility of contagion outdoors with half of the population vaccinated at least with the first dose is almost nil. But we must not forget that the mask will remain an accessory to always carry with us because in certain situations, in line at the ice cream shop or at the stadium, in order not to take any risks we will have to be ready to wear it".
The government is therefore evaluating what to do after the United Kingdom had to extend the restrictions due to the advance of the highly contagious Delta (or Indian) variant of Covid-19 and postponed the so-called freedom day, day of symbolic liberation from anti-pandemic restrictions.
In Paris, on the other hand, you can breathe: from today the masks are off outside and the curfew abolished from Sunday. The two provisions had already been largely violated for several days, above all in Paris, where even in the restaurants people went much beyond the permitted hours every evening.
And in Italy? From Friday 18 June practically the whole country will be in the white zone according to the forecasts of the Minister of Health Speranza. The infections have dropped to 471, the number of seriously ill patients has fallen below 500, with 5% of the beds occupied throughout Italy. Clear signals that the Covid-19 infection is regressing, also and above all thanks to the massive vaccination campaign. The hypothesis of abolishing the mask outdoors is therefore being studied: Matteo Salvini immediately rode it and so did Luigi Di Maio. Palazzo Chigi maintains a cautious profile and Prime Minister Mario Draghi does not rule out having to extend the state of emergency which is about to expire on July 31st: «We still need prudence, because it is true that we are emerging from the pandemic, but unfortunately we are not yet out,” he said. And so we are talking about the next steps: starting with the masks which, even in the white area, must be worn indoors and outdoors. Unless the countermand arrives.
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