The mayor of Bergamo in the Lombardy region of Italy, which has become the European center of the CCP virus outbreak, said he has flown his daughters back from the UK because he believes they will be safer.
Giorgio Gori said he made the decision to bring his daughters home from schools in Taunton and Canterbury after concluding that the UK government’s response to the pandemic was too slow.
NTD refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Party’s coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.
“I have two daughters, they are studying in England, one in Taunton in college and the other in Canterbury, she’s doing a Masters,” Gori said according to Sky News.
“When I saw what the English government was thinking about this problem, I decided to bring them back because I think even if we are at the center of the epidemic they are probably more secure here than in England. I don’t understand why the government didn’t decide in time to protect their citizens.”
Italy has become the European epicenter for the virus, with 6,077 people dying due to COVID-19 and the number of infections standing at 63,927, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the pandemic.
Gori’s decision to fly his daughters back to Italy comes despite the country currently being under a strict lockdown, banning citizens from moving across municipalities other than for “non-deferrable and proven business or health reasons or other urgent matters.” Those leaving their homes without a valid reason face a fine from police, while those departing or arriving in the country need a valid explanation.
On Monday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a complete lockdown of the UK, banning all citizens from leaving their homes except for a few “very limited” reasons, including shopping for basic necessities.
In a televised statement on Monday evening, the prime minister said that shops, gyms, and places of worship will all close, and social events including weddings will be postponed. However, funerals will still be able to take place attended by a handful of close relatives.
“From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction, you must stay at home,” Johnson said. “Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households.”
Johnson said that “people will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes,” which he listed as shopping for basic necessities, doing one form of exercise a day, providing medical services, or going to work if it is absolutely vital and they cannot work from home.
“That’s all—these are the only reasons you should leave your home. You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say ‘no.’ You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home.”
Johnson said those who don’t abide by the strict new rules will face consequences from law enforcement, adding that the police will have the power to enforce them by breaking up public gatherings and issuing fines, although parks will remain open for exercise. The measures will be reviewed after three weeks, and people will not require paperwork to go outside.
