On Tuesday, Italy’s upper house of parliament accepted a proposal by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to prolong a state of emergency until October 15, extending the powers of his government in addressing the coronavirus pandemic.
The upper house Senate passed the proposition in the 319-seat chamber by 157 votes to 125.
On January 31, after the first two instances of coronavirus were confirmed in Rome, Conte declared a six-month state of emergency.
Conte moved back from original intentions to request an extension until the end of the year, stating that he only wanted a renewal until mid-October.
The state of emergency provides additional authority to both regional and central government while making it easier for governments to designate red zones if outbreaks startup again.
