Italy reported another daily record for COVID-19 cases on Saturday, as the government planned further restrictions to curb a pandemic resurgence.
Meanwhile, yesterday marked the second day of street protests against the curfew that was ordered this week.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said he wants to avoid a repeat of the stalemate earlier this year and the central government is expected to announce more measures soon.
After clashes in Naples on Friday night, police confronted dozens of masked protesters in central Rome as far-right group Forza Nuova called for a protest against the curfew.
Earlier in the day, health ministry data showed 19,644 new cases of COVID and 151 deaths, while the disease rose in areas such as Lombardy, Milan, Campania and Lazio.
Conte vowed to speed up aid to businesses suffering in the crisis but said the coming weeks would be very difficult.
"We cannot reduce our oversight and care," he added.
Under a decree circulating Saturday, public gyms and swimming pools could be closed. Restaurants and bars will be closed by 6pm and people will be encouraged not to move out of their neighborhoods.
The Italian government is trying not to shut down the economy altogether, but is facing growing public outrage over new restrictions that were put in place to eliminate public rallies.
Earlier in the week, the curfew was ordered by local governors in Campania, the area around Naples, Lazio, around Rome and Lombardy, the epicenter of the first wave, where more than 1,000 new cases were recorded on Saturday.
In addition, there will be restrictions for other regions.
With public health services being pressured, authorities have reopened temporary intensive care facilities built during the first phase. Despite this, Italy's highest public health body warned on Friday that services were approaching the tipping point of the crisis.
Source: Reuters
