Italy considers extending Covid-19 emergency until January 31, media say
Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte looks on after addressing the upper house of parliament following the EU summit on the recovery fund, sealed to revive economies ravaged by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, in Rome, Italy, July 22, 2020. PHOTO: REUTERS
Italy is considering extending until Jan 31 next year its state of emergency over the Covid-19 crisis, two national newspapers said on Thursday.
The emergency, set to expire in mid-October, gives the government greater powers, allowing officials to more easily bypass the bureaucracy that smothers much decision-making in Italy.
Dailies Il Messagero and Corriere della Sera said a cabinet meeting discussed the issue late on Wednesday.
“It is not official yet.. while at first (the government) talked about pushing it back to Dec 31, during the meeting (the government) considered going beyond the end of the year, given that the cohabitation with the virus is destined to go on for a long time still,” Il Messaggero said.