We will send police. With flame-throwers, Italian mayors lose it at people refusing to self isolate

As the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise, several Italian mayors have voiced their distress with those ignoring quarantine protocols.

Mayoral figures of different Italian cities took to social media and local television to make statements regarding growing fear around COVID-19 in Italy. Despite the overwhelming amount of infected cases, some have disregarded the necessary precautions pushed by their government.

“I’m getting news that some [people] would like to throw graduation parties,” said Vincenzo De Luca, the president of Campania, said in a Facebook live statement. “We will send police. With flame-throwers.”

The plead to abide by government precautions follow the country’s decision to enter a nation-wide lockdown, which shut down non-essential businesses and barred any travel within the country.

Italian mayors are addressing dismissers with the harsh realities that could impact them if they continue to avoid lockdown rules.

Massimiliano Presciutti, the mayor of Reggio Calabria, is angered that people are using their dogs as a poor excuse to leave their house for unnecessary reasons.

“Where the f*** are you all going? You and your dogs… which must have an inflamed prostate?” he said in a video circulating on social media.

Giuseppe Falcomatà, the mayor of Reggio Calabria, says he has approached people on the streets running with their dogs, advising them that “this isn’t a movie.”

“You are not Will Smith in ‘I Am Legend.’”

Although a majority of Italians are following orders to stay inside, police say they fined more than 40,000 people in the first week of the lockdown.

“Getting in mobile hairdressers? What the f*** is that for?” Antonio Tutolo, the mayor of Lucera said. “Who the f*** is supposed to even see you with your hair all done in a casket?”

“Do you understand the casket will be closed?” he said.

Italy’s infection rate has surged throughout the past two weeks with more than 53,000 confirmed cases. The death toll has surpassed China, climbing past 5,400 and becoming the pandemic’s new epicentre.

On Saturday, Italy recorded 793 new deaths related to COVID-19, the largest single-day increase as of yet.

In response to growing numbers in Italy, the Russian Defence Ministry has loaded a military plane with supplies and personnel to fly into the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic.

As the Italian healthcare system continues to buckle, supplies such as masks, ventilators, and additional doctors will hopefully provide some aid in containing the outbreak.

~ via National Post