Roundup: Italy police to enforce corona rules; Bremen protests stay peaceful

Madrid Desk, Dec 5 (efe-epa).- Italian will deploy tens of thousands of police officers to help enforce coronavirus measures ahead of and during the Christmas season, while a strong contingent of officers were on the streets in Bremen, Germany ahead of a planned demonstration against restrictions in place to help stem the spread of Covid-19.

ITALY

Some 70,000 police officers in Italy will ensure that citizens and tourists respect and comply with the infection prevention measures approved by the Italian government for the Christmas period, interior minister Luciana Lamorgese said Saturday.

The police presence will help enforce measures on social distancing, capacity and opening hours for restaurants, stores and other establishments.

“They will watch with a sense of balance because if we are keeping the stores open it is to safeguard a certain type of economy, but the owners must also take precautions not to let too many people in at the same time,” she said in statements to the Sky television channel.

The minister admitted that this Christmas would be one of “sacrifices” and limitations, which will also affect travel between municipalities and regions.

Lamorgese also said that the country will make “more incisive controls at the borders and airports” for Italians and tourists to avoid a repeat of the loss of control of the rate of infection seen at the end of the summer.

The Italian government this week approved a decree with new restrictions that will apply from December 21 to January 6.

Travel between regions will be prohibited, while on December 25, 26 and January 1 it will not be possible to leave the municipality and there will be a curfew between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., except on New Year’s Eve, when it will be extended to 7:00 a.m.

GERMANY