Campania’s Governor Warns Against Complacency Amidst Easing of Restrictions

During his customary Friday address, Campania’s President Vincenzo De Luca expressed concern over the national government’s decision to relax COVID-19 restrictions in the region. He cautioned against interpreting the shift to a “yellow zone” as a license for reckless behavior, urging citizens to remain vigilant regardless of the official risk level. De Luca began by criticizing the current national government’s handling of the crisis, describing the situation as “frankly embarrassing” and detrimental to Italy’s international standing. He reiterated his opposition to the tiered system of restrictions, advocating for a uniform national approach with targeted red zone designations for regions experiencing high infection rates. Noting a recent, albeit moderate, increase in cases, he issued a stark warning: “If we act irresponsibly, Campania will be in complete lockdown within two or three weeks.” He stressed the importance of continued mask usage, hygiene, and social distancing. He emphasized the dangers of complacency, stating that the yellow zone status could jeopardize the progress made in recent months. Regarding the vaccination campaign, De Luca highlighted Campania’s leading position in Italy for vaccination rates, a feat recognized internationally but not always appreciated domestically. Despite this success, he criticized the insufficient vaccine supply, noting that while Campania had achieved an 85.5% administration rate with 109,000 doses, the projected 340,000 doses by January would only cover healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities. To achieve herd immunity and emerge from the pandemic before other regions, he estimated the need for at least 8 million doses. He emphasized the region’s preparedness, highlighting their capacity to administer vaccines efficiently, but stressed that this potential depends entirely on sufficient vaccine availability. This would require establishing hundreds of vaccination centers beyond existing healthcare facilities, utilizing public spaces like churches and theaters. While facing pressure to reopen schools, De Luca indicated that widespread school reopenings are contingent upon completion of mass testing of school staff, a process requiring additional time. He showcased the region’s vaccination certificate, emphasizing that it will confer no special privileges and will only be issued upon vaccination completion. Finally, he reiterated his commitment to securing significant European Union funding for the region’s future development, stating that they are actively preparing projects to leverage these resources for economic growth and societal advancement.