The U.S. continues to dig itself out of the pandemic, with more than 2 million vaccination shots per day, The New York Times reports.

Unfortunately, the situation in Italy is rapidly deteriorating as covid variants have caused infections to surge across several areas of the country.

Over Easter weekend, the entire country will be subject to a national lockdown from April 3 to 5 — which is tough news to bear for a nation that has lost more than 100,000 people to the disease over the past year.

CNN reports:

“Half of Italy’s 20 regions, which include the cities Rome, Milan and Venice, will be entering new coronavirus restrictions starting Monday, March 15. The measures will be effective through April 6, according to a decree passed by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s cabinet on Friday.

In regions marked as “red zones” people will be unable to leave their houses except for work or health reasons, with all non-essential shops closed. In “orange zones,” people will also be banned from leaving their town and their region — except for work or health reasons — and bars and restaurants will only be able to do delivery and take-away service.”

During Easter weekend, please keep our fellow Italians in your thoughts and prayers, and help the cause by giving a small donation to the Global Giving coronavirus relief fund.

 

Make a Pledge and join Italian Sons and Daughters of America today.