The government said Thursday that it
has send a new National Pandemic Plan to the State-Regions
Conference so that the Italy's regional governments can examine
it and provide input.
The plan says that, in the event of a new pandemic of "an
exceptional nature", it will be possible to impose temporary
restrictions on personal freedom.
But it stresses that this will only be possible via laws
approved by parliament and not via premier's office decrees,
which were used frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The plan also recognises the use of vaccines, while adding that
these should not be the "sole means" of combating the disease.
"The new national pandemic plan was sent to the regions
yesterday," said Health Minister Orazio Schillaci.
"They are now examining it and we will soon have a response.
There is economic coverage for it provided in the budget law,
which was not there before. Freedoms and, above all, citizens
will be protected".
Premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing Brothers of Italy (FDI)
party opposed many of the restrictions and vaccination
requirements imposed at the height of the COVID pandemic when it
was in the opposition.
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