“The quarantine must be strictly observed. In the United Kingdom the number of infections is on the rise and so is that of deaths, albeit slightly. The movement of thousands of people from areas where the virus circulates in that way involves obvious risks “: Pierpaolo Sileri, doctor and undersecretary of health, is worried about the England match on Saturday 3 July in Rome. And he invites us not to let our guard down, “it would be an unforgivable mistake”.
Are the five days of mandatory quarantine for those coming from Great Britain enough to guarantee safety?
«In theory, yes, the problem is whether the rule is respected, if you can really make sure that whoever comes from UK observe the prescribed period of isolation. Considering the times, however, it is impossible to come to Italy now to watch Saturday’s match while observing the quarantine ».
Are you concerned that the control meshes may be too loose?
“It is not easy to control thousands of people, just as it is not easy to guard all possible arrival points in our country. However, a plan to deal with the situation is being defined, I have confidence in the work of the competent authorities. Personally, I would also place targeted checks at the entrance to the stadium as an extreme barrier: if you want to enter, you have to prove when you entered Italy ».
In general, how dangerous is this situation that has arisen with the matches of the European football championships?
«The Delta variant has an incidence in Italy between 20 and 26% of new infections, last week it was around 18% and will continue to rise. We cannot afford to import new cases with the mass displacement of people from areas where the virus is widespread. The concern must lie with all the countries where the migrations of supporters are taking place ».
Il Corriere has created a special with matches, teams, protagonists and results in real time: browse all the news on the 2021 European Championships.
Prime Minister Draghi, and not only him, has asked not to play semi-final and final in England …
«I believe that other solutions can also be found without moving the game, as long as more restrictive measures are adopted, such as strengthening the quarantine before and after the event or as a double buffer. However, it is necessary to understand if these measures can be concretely adopted and implemented. If, on the other hand, we leave thousands of people free to move from one country to another, from one stadium to another, then the risks are very high. It is also important to be able to convince the fans to stay at home and cheer for their team in front of the TV ».
After weeks of discussion and comparison, the green light for vaccinations on vacation has arrived in at least some regions. For or against?
«Favorable to the extent that it serves to speed up the campaign, but it would be better to get vaccinated before leaving for the holidays for two reasons: first of all because to protect yourself from the Delta variant it is also necessary to have received the second dose; and then because it is better not to complicate the life of the health care personnel ».
Some regions have suspended bookings for the first dose due to a shortage of vaccines …
“In fact, there is a drop in supplies, but by mid-July the situation should return to normal, also because, having reached 40 million people already vaccinated with the first dose, the demand will decrease”.
June 30, 2021 (change June 30, 2021 | 22:53)
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