Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte says new measures against the coronavirus are needed during the holiday season. They should reduce the number of new infections and prevent a third wave.

In an interview with La Stampa, Conte says a third wave will be “devastating.” “Even when it comes to the death toll. We must avoid the third wave at all costs.”

After other European countries Italy is now also considering introducing stricter measures during Christmas.

Last weekend, the measures were relaxed a bit, and it was immediately jam-packed in the big cities.

According to Conte, the vaccine will not provide a solution until the end of spring. Then probably between 10 and 15 million people will have been vaccinated.

Italy was hit hard by the coronavirus in the spring. Since March, more than 65,000 people have died from corona, and more than 1.8 million people have been diagnosed with the virus.