国际英语资讯:Italy eyes measures to tap down COVID-19 hotspots, overall situation continues to improve_时事

国际英语资讯:Italy eyes measures to tap down COVID-19 hotspots, overall situation continues to improve

The number of new cases in Veneto remained relatively low -- the ministry reported eight new cases between Saturday and Sunday -- but the contagion rate has spiked from 0.43 to 1.63 over the last week, according to multiple news reports.

According to regional president Luca Zaia, at least some of the cases stem from a businessman who returned to Italy from Serbia with COVID-19 symptoms. That man infected at least five people and forced another 89 into quarantine.

On Saturday, Zaia said he was prepared to dramatically tighten lockdown measures in the region if needed. He said he would wait for an updated report on the situation on Monday before deciding what steps to take.

Corriere della Sera, Italy's largest newspaper, reported Saturday there are about 20 small, isolated hotspots across Italy that officials are keeping an eye on. At least five have resulted in localized lockdown measures.

The most serious is in the northern province of Mantova -- halfway between Milan and Venice -- where 68 cases have been reported, with two patients in a hospital intensive-care unit. All the cases are directly or indirectly tied to a group of workers in a slaughterhouse.

CALL FOR MEASURES

As the situation develops, lawmakers from at least four of Italy's 20 regions called on the government to conduct stricter controls on arrivals from other countries in order to prevent cases like the one in Veneto from being repeated.