Following the ‘No Paura Day’ rally in Turin, protests against the new Green pass rules are planned across the country on Saturday 24th July. The protests start at 17.30.
More than 80 towns and cities are planning rallies against the new Green Pass rules on Saturday. Organised via social media, they follow the ‘No Paura Day’ (No Fear Day) rally in Turin which attracted several thousand people on Thursday night.
The Green Pass shows people have been vaccinated, tested negative or recovered from covid-19. It is available in both digital and paper format.
New Green Pass rules spark protests
Until now the ‘certificazione verde’ was needed only for international travel in Europe as well as entry to nursing homes and large events.
However, this week the coalition government of Draghi widened its scope. From 6th August the pass will be required to dine at indoor tables in restaurants and bars. It will also be mandatory for access to museums, cinemas, gyms, swimming pools and sports stadiums.
Protesters plan to demonstrate against what they define variously as “passport slavery and the obligation to vaccinate,” the “covid scam” and the “dictatorship of the Green Pass,” reports news agency ANSA.
Protests planned in major cities
Apparently, there will be demonstrations in major Italian cities including Bergamo, Bologna, Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Rome. Turin will once again demonstrate, reports La Stampa newspaper.
The protests come amid heated debate over the covid vaccine. Politicians are split with right-wing party League not in favour of the extension.
Those in favour of the scope’s extension say it incentivises people to get vaccinated. Those against say they are being penalised for choosing not to have the vaccine.
Jump in vaccination bookings
ANSA reports there was a significant increase in vaccination bookings for many regions in Italy yesterday.
General Figliuolo, coronavirus emergency commissioner, stated that there was a jump of “between 15% and 200%” in appointments.
Yesterday, the government reported Italy’s COVID Rt infection rate number has risen from 0.91 last week to 1.26 this week. This means each person with the virus now infects more than one other, according to the weekly monitoring report from the health ministry and the Higher Health Institute (ISS).
There has also been a sharp rise in incidence rates which have risen from 19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants last week to 41 cases per 100,000 this week, the report says.
