The numbers are not reassuring, and there are those who already speak of third wave. Or, of a second wave that never ended. In the last few hours, the statements of Agostino Miozzo, coordinator of the CTS, who spoke of a necessary but impossible lockdown.
Third wave, the words of Miozzo
The epidemiological curve does not intend to decline. The positivity rate fluctuates around 13%, intensive care is up, and the government is working on measures who will draw Italy starting from January 16th. In the meantime, the experts agree: we cannot let our guard down. As Agostino Miozzo explained, “herd immunity will not arrive before the summer. This is why it is essential not to let your guard down ”. According to the CTS coordinator, the restrictions imposed on Italians (albeit unloved) have proven their effectiveness. Regions subjected to stricter measures have seen “a significant decline in the incidence of the disease”, as opposed to regions which have adopted a softer line. What about the third wave?
Miozzo is sure of it: «We expect it for the end of next week. Unfortunately, after a year of broad, narrow restrictions, rigorous and less rigorous measures, the country is in great suffering. Some categories are desperate: entertainment, tourism, catering, sports. So, while realizing that obviously the best solution would be the one we took in March-April, or the total and national lockdown, we can no longer do it, "he told Il Messaggero. What frightens the experts, most of all, is thehidden aggregation. They are the gatherings in homes, between friends and relatives, which cannot be controlled and for which one only appeals to common sense. An indispensable common sense, considering how the vaccination campaign is only in its infancy and the light at the end of the distant tunnel. So much so that, according to the scientific director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" Joseph Hippolytus, at least until the first quarter of 2022 we will have to deal with the Coronavirus.
Conte: "More sacrifices are needed"
Prime Minister Conte also spoke of the third wave, asking the Italians new sacrifices. In the meantime, the government is working on other measures: confirmed the curfew from 22.00 to 5.00, and extended it state of emergency to 30 April 2021. What will happen from 16 January will then be defined by the RTs of the individual regions. We talk about white band with Rt less than 0,5: in those conditions everything will be open, including gyms, but no region today comes close to such a low Rt. Entering the red zone, on the other hand, will be easier. According to the latest news, this would automatically trigger at reaching 250 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants. This is a hypothesis that the regions do not like. The future of Italy is therefore not yet known. The details of the new dpcm are not known, which will remain in force 30 or maybe 45 days. Only one thing is certain: averting the third wave, or at least limiting its damage, is the priority.
