Businesses, restaurants and shops have been opened and Italian populist PM Conte has been defending the measure despite continued sharp criticism. When asked about his stance recently, he stood by his decision despite the fact that people are still afraid to going out and adjusting to the new normal is snail paced. On the other hand, worries about the huge economic downturn and a "long-lasting clampdown" prevail.
According to AlJazeera, "[T]he softly-softly approach has been criticised by businesses, lambasted by the opposition and even questioned by parties within PM Conte's fragile coalition." Earlier, the prime minister of Italy Giuseppe Conte had defended easing of lockdown saying, "If I could turn the clock back, I'd do it all again. I cannot let myself be swayed by public opinion, even if I understand those feelings very well myself."
Italy has been one of the world's hardest-hit countries and the highest affected in EU, registering over 32,000 deaths and 228,000 cases since the first coronavirus patient was identified in February. In an effort to bounce back and keep the economy afloat, Italy opened up foregoing the fact that its morgues filled to capacity and several unclaimed dead were buried when the virus was at peak. The pandemic took a staggering toll on the people of Italy.