None of these is in place as Italy experiments
with its second week of loosening restrictions
and looks ahead to Monday’s reopening
of shops and, in some regions, bars
and restaurants.
Italy’s commissioner for the emergency,
Domenico Arcuri, went on the defensive
Tuesday to respond to mounting criticism of his
Phase II roll-out.
He insisted “Italians know well what to do” to
protect themselves, even if they don’t have the
tests, masks, contact-tracing or other measures
that public health authorities deemed necessary
for Italy to reopen in safety.
“Sometimes I make mistakes for which I expect
criticism and, if necessary, reprimand, from
Italians,” Arcuri said. But he directed the blame at
others and repeated that he was working solely
in the public’s interest.
Italy is by no means alone in emerging from
lockdown without all its infection-prevention
pillars in place. And no country has had a
blueprint for managing either the COVID-19
outbreak or the reopening phase.
But Italy’s problems epitomize the challenges
many countries face as they seek to balance
economic and health care needs while
reassuring terrified citizens with promises that
perhaps were overly optimistic.
France’s pledge to “protect, test and trace” all
those who come into contact with a coronavirus
patient was dealt a setback Monday when the
constitutional court threw out part of its new
virus law. The court objected to the contact-
tracing language and ordered the government
to take extreme care in protecting privacy.