“We won’t close borders,” he says Angelo Borrelli, head of Civil Protection and commissioner for the emergency of coronavirus, which however excludes massive controls on trains and cars. We focus on something else. Automatic temperature measurement for all passengers disembarking at Italian airports, with special instruments that have already been used in some Asian airports for years. In this way, you can also intercept a traveler who arrives from China, but with a connecting flight. And from tomorrow on to the special flights, managed by the Chinese airlines, to bring home tourists stuck in Italy after the stop at the connections from Fiumicino and Malpensa. Here, in summary, are some of the measures of the Task Force on coronavirus after the declaration of the state of emergency.
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What are the main decisions made in these hours?
«First of all we have confirmed that Monday the 67 Italians who have chosen to return from the area of the Hubei region, closed by the Chinese government, will land in Pratica di Mare. They will be hosted at the Cecchignola barracks. We are working together with the Farnesina Crisis Unit, ENAC and the Armed Forces. “
After the Italian government’s decision to block all flights to and from China, it is estimated that there are at least 500 compatriots who do not know how to return from non-isolated areas, such as the cities of Shanghai and Beijing.
«The numbers are variable, we are evaluating them. The idea is to organize flights that allow the return journey to the Italians and the return to the Chinese stationary in Italy to reach their country. “
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So will there be a waiver to block flights?
«In civil protection we never talk about exceptions. These are flights that we organize, starting from February 3, with the Chinese companies that normally managed these routes. They will not be borne by the Italian state. The plan plans to already have five on the first day. At the same time, these flights, which we are preparing in agreement with the Chinese authorities, will also include the transport of useful goods to China, starting from medical material and analysis kits ».
Did not stopping flights suddenly, preventing re-entry to China, not cause a boomerang effect? We have thousands of Chinese tourists traveling around Rome or camping in Fiumicino.
«At the moment there are no people stopped at the airport. Let me explain: on Friday evening, we made 420 camp beds available at Fiumicino airport for Chinese passengers who were unable to leave. Of these, however, only 15 have decided to use them, the others have found a place in hotels. But even those 15 then became 9, because some passengers organized themselves and managed to find a connecting flight to China ».
The use of flights with a stopover – from Rome to Doha, Dubai or Bangkok and then from those cities I take another flight that takes me to China – solves part of the problem of blocked Chinese tourists. But it causes another: despite the stop to flights from all Chinese airports, passengers can arrive every day from Beijing or Shanghai simply with an intermediate connection.
«We are also thinking about these risk conditions by refining the methodology. We want to use an instrument, an automatic thermoscanner, which measures the temperature in real time not only to passengers on a particular flight, but to anyone who leaves the arrivals area. It will take a while, in the meantime we will rely on traditional methods, measuring the fever on flights that potentially are the conclusion of a connection from China. Around 250, every day, are those with these characteristics ».
Pending special flights, the problem of Chinese travelers stranded in Rome remains.
«Nobody wants to keep them prisoners. This is why we are working hard to organize their return. Taking into account, however, that a party, as mentioned, is resorting to travel with connection ».
What other measures will you take?
“Security measures at ports will also be increased. But today there is no condition in Europe and in Italy that could lead to the hypothesis of a closure of borders. It would be absurd ».
Why do you want to requisition hotels?
“It will probably not be necessary, but it is an option that the ordinance must provide in case of need. At the same time, specialized hospitals for this type of emergency, such as Spallanzani in Rome and Sacco in Milan, have sufficient places. And in other regions there are centers of excellence, for example in Emilia-Romagna. If needed, we could also find beds in other hospitals. The system is holding, Italy’s response has been timely. And also in China there has been a system of isolation of the epicenter of the infection useful to limit the spread of the infection “.
Last updated: 04:43
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