With the whole country in total isolation and hospitals on the verge of collapse, the government of Italy, the European country most affected by the coronavirus outbreak, is trying to ensure that the entire population of the country – over 60 million people – stays at home. The task is difficult and, to ensure this, the country’s Ministry of Internal Administration has created a self-certification form, which must be printed and completed by any Italian citizen who needs to leave home. When approached by the police, the citizen must present the document and the agent must sign it if he considers the justification acceptable.
According to the Italian press, the document was published in site from the Italian government on Monday, after Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the most drastic measure known in Europe so far: the country’s total isolation.
According to the rules, “all movements of natural persons, entering or leaving” the territory must be avoided, “As well as within the territory” – a ban that applies to the entire population. Only exceptional movements will be allowed with justifications considered valid. As for people who, because they are infected or have had direct contact with infected people and who therefore have to be in isolation, they areabsolute prohibition”Of mobility.
The self-certification declaration includes the four justifications that can be presented to the authorities and that can allow you to leave home:
- “Proven labor requirements”;
- “Situations of need;
- “Health reasons”;
- “And the return to one’s own home, dwelling and residence”.
Failure to comply with these standards can result in “penal consequences“, As recalled by the declaration that must be signed by Italian citizens who intend to leave home. On the one hand, there are penalties “provided for in case of making false statements to public officials”; on the other, there are specific penalties provided for in the Italian government decree for those who do not comply with the isolation imposed on the entire national territory.
According to Italian newspapers, citizens may be questioned by police officers when they attempt to cross municipal boundaries or circulate in the streets and present the document, at which time the police will try to prove that the justification presented in the declaration is valid. If the person is unable to prove the accuracy of the justification, may be detained and sentenced to up to three months in prison for crimes against public health.
Anyone who does not have access to the internet or a printer can write the text of the declaration by hand on a sheet of paper and present that handwritten sheet to the police. Those who need to perform the same movements daily or several times specify in the declaration how often you need to go to a certain place.
According to most recent official figures, there has already been a total of 10,149 cases of infection in Italy and 631 deaths. About 1,000 people have already been discharged and more than 8,500 are still hospitalized. Italy is the European country most affected by the outbreak and the second most affected globally, just behind China.
The outbreak is affecting, above all, the northern part of the country, with the Lombardy region (whose capital is Milan) registering 57% of cases. This was the first region to be covered by isolation measures announced over the weekend by the Italian government, which on Monday extended isolation to the entire national territory.
At the moment, the entry and exit of the country are strongly conditioned and several countries and airlines have already suspended travel to and from Italy. The Portuguese government announced at the end of Tuesday afternoon the suspension of all flights to and from Italy from airports and aerodromes in Portugal.
“The undersigned _, born in _ a _, resident in _, rua _, identified by the document _ number _, telephone contact _, aware of the criminal consequences foreseen in case of making false declarations to public officials (art. 495 of the code penal)
DECLARES UNDER OWN RESPONSIBILITY
- Is aware of the contagion measures resulting from article 1, paragraph 1, of the decree of the president of the Council of Ministers of March 9, 2020 regarding the movement of individuals within the entire national territory, as well as the penalties referred to in article 4, paragraph 1, of the decree of the President of the Council of Ministers of March 8, 2020 in case of non-compliance (art. 650 of the penal code, unless the fact constitutes a more serious crime)
- That the movement is motivated by:
- proven labor requirements;
- situations of need;
- health reasons;
- return to home, housing and residence.
In this sense, he declares that _ (I work in …; I am returning to my home, located in …; I need to do a medical examination in …; other special reasons; etc.)
Control date, time and place
Declarant’s signature | The police officer ”
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