Why one expert believes the pandemic in Italy will 'end in spring'
While infection and hospitalisation rates continue to rise in Italy, some experts are optimistic that the ongoing vaccination campaign could soon mean the end of the health emergency.
As Italy hit a new record daily number of vaccinations this week, one Italian virologist predicted the high vaccination rate could mean the country is "out of the pandemic" by spring.
Italy administered a record 686,000 anti-Covid vaccines in one day on Tuesday, Covid-19 emergency commissioner Francesco Figliuolo confirmed in an announcement issued on Wednesday,
Most of these - almost 550,000 - were third doses. Some 77,500 of were first doses, including 48,000 children and 22,500 first doses for the over-50s, after the government made jabs mandatory for this age group
This means 86.5 percent of the eligible population over 12 years old has now been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the latest data available on Wednesday.
"Already in spring, between April and May 2022, we will reasonably be out of the pandemic," Matteo Bassetti, director of the Infectious Diseases Clinic in Genoa, told Rai Radio1 on Wednesday.
"I believe that in Italy today 10-15 percent (of people) are positive, so about ten million people, and by spring more than one in two will be infected," he added.
"I hope this means we will be able to remove masks, since I believe we will have 95 percent of vaccinated people," he stated.
Masks are currently mandatory in outdoor as well as indoor public places across the whole of Italy until at least January 31st.
Italy hit another record on Tuesday with 220,532 new Covid infections, according to data from the health ministry, while rising hospitalisation rates are likely to push four regions into the more restricted 'orange' zone by Monday.
As infections continue to spread, Bassetti also criticised Italy's current quarantine rules, which mean more than two million people are currently in isolation.
The Italian government announced a revision of the coronavirus quarantine rules under a new decree law last month.
READ ALSO:
- UPDATE: What are Italy’s new Covid quarantine rules?
- Covid-19: Italy makes outdoor mask wearing compulsory
Quarantine is no longer required for close contacts if they have had a booster dose, or were fully vaccinated or recovered within the last four months (120 days).
But, seemingly referring to the quarantine requirement for those who have had two doses more than four months ago, Bassetti criticised the rule as "stupid".
"If I had had to do (quarantine) for every contact I had, I would have had to stay at home since last February," he added.
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As Italy hit a new record daily number of vaccinations this week, one Italian virologist predicted the high vaccination rate could mean the country is "out of the pandemic" by spring.
Italy administered a record 686,000 anti-Covid vaccines in one day on Tuesday, Covid-19 emergency commissioner Francesco Figliuolo confirmed in an announcement issued on Wednesday,
Most of these - almost 550,000 - were third doses. Some 77,500 of were first doses, including 48,000 children and 22,500 first doses for the over-50s, after the government made jabs mandatory for this age group
This means 86.5 percent of the eligible population over 12 years old has now been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the latest data available on Wednesday.
"Already in spring, between April and May 2022, we will reasonably be out of the pandemic," Matteo Bassetti, director of the Infectious Diseases Clinic in Genoa, told Rai Radio1 on Wednesday.
"I believe that in Italy today 10-15 percent (of people) are positive, so about ten million people, and by spring more than one in two will be infected," he added.
"I hope this means we will be able to remove masks, since I believe we will have 95 percent of vaccinated people," he stated.
Masks are currently mandatory in outdoor as well as indoor public places across the whole of Italy until at least January 31st.
Italy hit another record on Tuesday with 220,532 new Covid infections, according to data from the health ministry, while rising hospitalisation rates are likely to push four regions into the more restricted 'orange' zone by Monday.
As infections continue to spread, Bassetti also criticised Italy's current quarantine rules, which mean more than two million people are currently in isolation.
The Italian government announced a revision of the coronavirus quarantine rules under a new decree law last month.
READ ALSO:
- UPDATE: What are Italy’s new Covid quarantine rules?
- Covid-19: Italy makes outdoor mask wearing compulsory
Quarantine is no longer required for close contacts if they have had a booster dose, or were fully vaccinated or recovered within the last four months (120 days).
But, seemingly referring to the quarantine requirement for those who have had two doses more than four months ago, Bassetti criticised the rule as "stupid".
"If I had had to do (quarantine) for every contact I had, I would have had to stay at home since last February," he added.
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