Coronavirus: Don’t celebrate victory over virus too soon, Pope warns Italians

‘We still have to follow the rules,’ pontiff says in Sunday blessing

Pope Francis said no one should forget that coronavirus was still claiming many victims in other countries (AFP)

Pope Francis warned Italians to not let their guard down against coronavirus now that infection rates have fallen and urged them to obey government rules on social distancing and wearing masks.

The pontiff spoke out in reaction to applause that broke out when he said the presence of several hundred people in St Peter’s Square was a sign that Italy had overcome the acute phase of the pandemic.

“Be careful. Don’t cry victory too soon,” he cautioned them, departing from his prepared text during the Sunday blessing.

Nearly 34,000 people have died in Italy from the coronavirus, the fourth-highest toll in the world after the United States, the UK and Brazil.

The number of daily deaths has fallen from nearly 1,000 in March to 72 on Saturday.

Italy entered the latest phase of an easing of restriction on 3 June, when people were allowed to travel between regions again.

However some Italians, particularly young people, have flouted remaining rules on social distancing and wearing masks in public places. Authorities have warned of the danger of a second wave.

“We still have to follow the rules,” Pope Francis said. “Thank God, we are leaving the worst part, but always by obeying the rules that the authorities have stipulated,” he said.

Pope Francis said no one should forget that coronavirus was still claiming many victims in other countries.

He said he has heard that on Friday in one country, a person had died every minute. “Terrible,” he said. Pope Francis did not name the country but it was most likely a reference to Brazil, which reported 1,473 deaths on Friday.

Reuters