Italy's regions want central
government to reintroduce the obligation for people to wear
facemasks outdoors as part of the effort to curb COVID-19
contagion amid the fourth wave of the virus, a Lazio official
said on Wednesday.
"The hypothesis of (making obligatory) facemasks outdoors has
been raised by the regions in talks with the government," said
Lazio Health Chief Alessio D'Amato, adding that the proposal was
linked to crowds forming in shopping areas in the run-up to
Christmas.
"It is a measure that should be adopted immediately all over
Italy, regardless of the (COVID-risk) colour (of a region).
"Masks should be worn outdoors, especially in crowded places".
The World Health Organization's Europe office has said that "if
from today universal mask coverage of 95% was achieved, it is
estimated that over 160,000 deaths could be prevented by 1 March
2022".
Currently, 48% of people in Europe wear a mask when leaving
home, it said.
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