Italy will end Covid-19 state of emergency on March 31
February 24, 2022, 8:12 am

Italy will end Covid-19 state of emergency on March 31

Canale Grande in Venice, Italy (File photo: Pixabay)

The Arab News reported, citing the AFP, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said Wednesday that his country will end its Covid-19 state of emergency at the end of March and slowly lift rules imposed during the pandemic.

He added that the aim was to “reopen everything, as soon as possible,” after more than two years of a health crisis.
The pandemic hit Italy hard in early 2020 and has so far killed more than 153,000 people.

The country recorded more than 220,000 daily positive cases in early January, but numbers have since dropped significantly, with the health ministry reporting just under 50,000 on Wednesday.

The eurozone’s third largest economy has been struggling to recover from financially crippling lockdowns.

Draghi said in a speech in Florence: “The government is aware that the strength of the recovery depends first and foremost on the ability to overcome the emergencies of the moment."

Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy (File photo: Pixabay)

Italy currently has a so-called coronavirus Super Green Pass, which proves the bearer has been fully vaccinated or recovered recently from the virus, and which is mandatory for workers.

Draghi said that it is also obligatory in many public social settings — but that rule will soon be gradually rolled back, “starting with outdoor activities."

Italy begins administering third dose of COVID-19 vaccine

He said, that includes at fairs, sports activities, festivals and cultural events.

Draghi said: “We will continue to closely monitor the pandemic situation, ready to intervene in case of an outbreak."

“But our aim is to reopen fully, as soon as possible.”

Source: arabnews

Death toll reaches 204 from landslides and floods in Brazilian city of Petropolis Boris Johnson condemns unprovoked Russian attack on Ukraine

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”