A medical worker takes a swab sample for further testing at Santo Spirito Hospital in Rome, Italy, Oct.30, 2020. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
ROME, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Italy's special commissioner for the COVID-19 emergency Domenico Arcuri on Thursday appealed to the Italians' sense of responsibility in order for the whole country to be able to stand before the second pandemic wave.
The latest restrictions introduced by the cabinet this week could cool down the current surge in the curve, the official said, but only if associated with conscientious behavior by all citizens.
"First of all, we need a new pact of responsibility," Arcuri told a press conference.
"Italians were asked to make huge sacrifices in the first phase of the pandemic, including losing their personal freedom (of movement), and proved to be responsible."
"Now, along with the basic preventive measures of distance, protection, and hygiene that Italians are perfectly aware of, we all need to move as little as possible... everyone," he stressed.
His remarks came as 26,831 new cases were registered over the last 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry. The country's total number of cases reached 616,595, including 299,191 active infections, 279,282 recoveries, and 38,122 fatalities.
NO INTENSIVE CARE EMERGENCY
The commissioner explained the situation of intensive care units (ICUs) across the country was under control, and no emergency was in sight despite the current rise of cases.
"At the beginning of the pandemic, we had 5,179 ICU places available," Arcuri said.
"Since then, we have distributed 3,309 ventilators... so today we have at least 8,488 beds in intensive care."
He added a further 1,849 ventilators for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in intensive care that will be distributed to the regions starting Friday.
Up to Thursday, COVID-19 patients in intensive care were 1,651.
INCREASE IN TESTING CAPACITY
Arcuri, who was appointed by the government to manage the national response to the COVID-19, also said they meant to further increase testing across the country.
Since the pandemic broke out in Italy in February, about 12.6 million swab tests were distributed, and some 15 million people underwent a molecular test, according to the official.
"We want to increase the capacity up to 200,000 molecular swabs per day at least, and to add another 100,00 rapid antigen tests per day," Arcuri explained.
"This way, we will have at least 300,000 Italians screened every day, a figure we believe is enough to monitor the pandemic."
"MOMENT TO BE UNITED"
"This truly is the moment for us to be united," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte urged lawmakers earlier in the day while updating them on the latest restrictions and the financial measures to support the economy introduced by the cabinet since Oct. 24.
He pointed out this phase was "not less threatening than the first battle we fought in spring."
"All of the European Union (EU) countries are facing the dramatic impact of this second wave, and are adopting measures very similar to ours, in some cases even more severe," Conte said.
The latest economic aid package worth some 5.4 billion euros (6.3 billion U.S. dollars) that was passed by the cabinet Tuesday specifically allocated 30 million euros to boost rapid swab tests by family doctors and pediatricians, according to the prime minister. Enditem
