On Tuesday January 4, all the Italian trade union organizations and the Minister of Education Patrizio Bianchi will meet to discuss the modalities of returning to school following the Christmas holidays. Scheduled for January 10, the start of the school year might be delayed due to the worrying health situation.
Hospitalizations on the rise
Indeed, the weekly incidence recorded by the ISS (the higher Italian institute of health) in the week of December 20 to 26 is 430 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, up from 266 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. previous week.
20-29 year olds have the highest weekly incidence rate with 785 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The intensive care occupancy rate is 12.4%, up from previous weeks. The number of hospitalizations rose from 987 to 1,126. Figures which inevitably translate into increased hospital pressure, as confirmed by the ISS and Agenas (the Italian agency for the development of the health system). Data set to increase in the coming days, following the end of the year holidays.
→ REPORT. Covid-19: to save the holidays, Italy tightens the screw for the unvaccinated
In order to limit contagion at school and protect the unvaccinated, the Italian government has offered distance learning courses (“Dad” protocol) for the latter when there are at least two positive cases in class. The League, a far-right party of Matteo Salvini and the anti-system 5 Star Movement (M5S) oppose this rule. Barbara Floridia, M5S Under-Secretary for Education considers this measure discriminatory.
The League warns that “Leaving three and a half million children at home in January is not the solution”. Its assistant secretary for education, Rossano Sasso, believes that millions of students cannot be deprived of the right to education.
→ ANALYSIS. Back to school maintained: despite Omicron, the government assumes to “sanctify the school”
The vaccination campaign for children aged 5-11 has just started in Italy, but the vaccine for this age group is not compulsory. Only university students should be vaccinated. Teachers are required to have an up-to-date health pass (vaccines or negative tests) in order to be able to exercise their profession. Every day, school directors receive the list of valid passes, sent by the Ministry of Education.
FFP2 mask and health pass compulsory in transport
Today, four regions: Lombardy, Lazio, Piedmont and Sicily, previously in the white zone, have joined Liguria, Marche, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Calabria and the autonomous provinces of Trento and de Bolzano in the yellow zone with the consequence of the obligation to wear the mask outdoors.
The change from white to yellow, which is due to the worsening of three health indicators – incidence of cases, number of hospitalizations and occupation of intensive therapy – serves to warn the population of the obligation to respect distancing measures and wearing a mask.
To mitigate the outbreak of contaminations (more than a million positive cases and still 5.5 million Italians not vaccinated) and not to paralyze the economy, the government is thinking of a new decree. During the Council of Ministers, which should be held on Wednesday January 5, Prime Minister Mario Draghi will try to push through the extension of the health pass obligation in companies.
This is already compulsory in public transport since December 6, as well as the wearing of the FFP2 mask. A problem in Venice and Messina, Sicily, where many students and workers travel by vaporetto or ferry. Checks are carried out by police before purchasing tickets. In the event of an invalid health pass, the traveler is invited to get off.
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