Italian president calls for unity as Italy battles Coronavirus outbreak

Dear fellow citizens,
Italy is facing a particularly challenging moment, and it is duly facing it with full transparency and completeness of information towards the public opinion.

The pitfall of the new virus which is gradually affecting so many countries in the world causes concern. This is understandable and requires for all a sense of responsibility, but we must absolutely avoid unjustified and often counterproductive states of anxiety.

We are a great, modern Nation, we have an excellent national health system that is operating effectively and with the generous dedication of its personnel, at all professional levels.

We will overcome these days’ condition, also through the necessary adoption of extraordinary measures to support the work of the health professionals constantly engaged for days on end: measures for the introduction of new staff to support them and to ensure and check the actual availability of equipment and materials at the hospital sites.
Yesterday the Government – to which the Constitution entrusts the task and the instruments to decide – has laid down a series of indications of daily conduct, suggested by scientists and experts.

They are simple, but important in order to avoid the risk of further spreading the infection.
I wish to invite everyone to carefully follow these indications, even if they can temporarily modify our lifestyle.
Following these rules of conduct, each of us will actually contribute to overcome this emergency.
Our fellow citizens of the so-called red zones are already doing it with great dedication. I thank them for the way they are facing the sacrifices they are subjected to.

I would like to express sincere closeness to the sick people and solidarity to the families of the victims.
The moment we are experiencing requires involvement, sharing, harmony, unity of purpose in the commitment to defeat the virus: in the institutions, in politics, in everyday social life, in the media.

The steering committee established by the Government has the task to take – unambiguously – the necessary decisions in cooperation with the Regions, coordinating the various competencies and responsibilities. Initiatives that differ from the indications undertaken in the steering committee are therefore to be avoided.

Dear fellow citizens, with no negligence but without unnecessary alarm, we can and must have faith in the capabilities and resources that we have available.
Italy must and can be trusted.

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