Vaccines plan and new bans the government moves to curb the third wave

• Government, new tight hypothesis: possible weekend closures

• Vaccines, 684 thousand doses of AstraZeneca arrived by plane in Pratica di Mare

• Draghi: "With the acceleration of vaccines the way out is not far"

• Vaccines.

  Figliuolo: in Italy 7 million doses by the end of March

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09 March 2021 Stopping the growth of infections and accelerating vaccines.

The government evaluates possible changes to the Dpcm in force to counter the third wave of the epidemic.

This morning at 9 a new meeting of the Technical Scientific Committee to take stock of the situation and evaluate any new restrictive measures following the increase in infections linked to the spread of Coronavirus variants

The hypothesis of further rigid measures, such as that of lockdown on weekends and in all areas where weekly infections are greater than 250 per 100 thousand inhabitants that become the red zone, and the closure of shops in the municipalities where schools are closed , could lead - also underline parliamentary sources of the majority - to a measure before next weekend, but at the moment there is still no decision on the matter. 

The CTS calls for more stringent measures, in line with what the head of Health, Speranza, repeats.

The criteria should be established at the national level, but we will expect the data in the next few days.

On the new parameters there will be coordination work also with the Regions, meanwhile the Prime Minister accelerates in terms of vaccines.

The issue of organizing the distribution of vaccines was discussed yesterday by Prime Minister Draghi, by ministers Speranza and Gelmini, by the extraordinary Commissioner for the emergency Figliuolo and by the head of the Civil Protection Curcio.

Before the meeting with the Prime Minister, a summit lasted about an hour and a half.

Among the main points is the organization of logistics, also involving the post office, represented at the table in Palazzo Chigi by CEO Matteo Del Fante.

Then there is the supply aspect: the premier, who in the next few days could hear the American President Joe Biden and also talk about vaccines, has pushed in Europe to block the export of non-compliant companies and would be ready to open administration of doses of all vaccines validated by the EMA, including Sputnik.

But the aspect on which the Prime Minister chooses to focus is that of coordinating the plan on a national basis and the criteria for administration.

The acceleration, which also derives from choices such as authorizing Astrazeneca for the over 65s, will lead to a "decisive increase" of the doses in the coming weeks: "The most fragile people and categories at risk will be favored", he explains.

And he appeals not to try to skip the line: "Waiting for your turn - he says - is also a way to protect the health of our weaker fellow citizens".

Draghi intervenes with a video message at the conference "Towards a National Strategy on Gender Equality", on the occasion of Women's Day.

But he starts from the context of the pandemic, which sees the emergency worsening these days even if "we never thought that a year later we would find ourselves" still in this condition, he notes.

"Everyone must do their part in containing the spread of the virus. But above all, the government must do its part. Indeed it must try to do more every day," he declares.

Draghi does not give up sending a "true signal of trust. Even in ourselves".

He thanked citizens, families, teachers, health workers and the armed forces.

As for the government, he says: "These examples of civic and professional responsibility, of active Italian citizenship that require the government to multiply every effort. We are only at the beginning".

The appeal to political forces is not to divide, while it is necessary "to allow a return to normality as soon as possible. Every life counts", he declares.

Don't waste a moment, leave no stone unturned, make thoughtful but quick choices ", is his program.