Italy reopens as House debates recovery plan

ROME: Bars, restaurants, cinemas and concert halls will partially reopen across Italy on Monday in a boost for coronavirus-hit businesses, as parliament debates the government’s 220-billion-euro ($266-billion) Eu-funded recovery plan.

Ater months of stop-start restrictions imposed to manage its second and third waves of COVID-19, Italy hopes this latest easing will mark the start of something like a normal summer.

Three-quarters of regions will drop into the low-risk “yellow” categories from Monday, with bars and restaurants permited to restart table service outside - including, for the first time in six months, in the evening, although a 10:00 pm curfew remains in place.

“Finally!” said Daniele Vespa, the 26-yearold head waiter at Baccano, a restaurant near Rome’s Trevi Fountain, as he made preparations for the return of customers.

“Hopefully... we can soon reopen inside as well,” he said, adding: “It’s the start of a return to normality.”

Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can also open at 50-per cent capacity, followed by the staggered opening of swimming pools, gyms, sporting events and theme parks by July 1.

Prime Minister Mario Draghi has been under intense pressure from regional governments and increasingly regular street protests to ease restrictions, as Italy batles its deepest recession since World War II.

He has admited to taking a “calculated risk”, as infection rates and intensive care admissions fall but deaths still mount at more than 300 every day to more than 119,000.

The vaccination programme is gaining pace with more than 17.5 million jabs administered so far in a population of around 60 million, but there are disparities between regions.