ROME, (Reuters) – Health experts urged Monday the Italian government to loosen COVID-19 quarantine regulations. They said that without them the country could be paralysed by the Omicron virus.

Current rules require that anyone who has come in contact with COVID-19 patients must self-isolate within seven days of being vaccinated, and for a further 10 days for those who haven’t.

Nino Cartabellotta from the Gimbe Health Foundation stated that every positive individual had five to 10 close connections and predicted that in two weeks, one million people might have contracted COVID-19.

Cartabellotta stated that this would allow for five to 10 millions contacts to be quarantined, which is impossible.

Fabrizio Presgliasco, who is a virusologist, said the same thing: “It’s obvious that at this stage, and with this dissemination of Omicron,” we need to consider making changes in how we intervene. Otherwise, we are heading towards a generalised lockdown.”

INFECTIONS

Italy saw an increase in infections towards the end last week. It posted three consecutive days with record-breaking daily cases. The highest was Saturday at 54,762.

In an effort to combat mass socializing, the government tightened regulations last Thursday in order to reduce rising infections. It banned public New Years Eve celebrations.

Francesco Paolo Figliuolo (government’s COVID-19 Commissioner) told reporters that officials in the health sector were looking into revising the quarantine rules.

A few politicians suggested that those who have been fully vaccinated need not be placed in quarantine even if there are no signs or symptoms. It has also been suggested that anyone who refuses to inoculate should be subject to future curbs.

Matteo Renzi said, “If any restrictions are to be imposed it should be against the anti-vaxxers.”

Official statistics show that nearly 80% have had an initial shot and 29% have had a third. The best protection against Omicron is believed to be in the latter.