ITALY - defiance of lockdown restrictions

[Esspee]

I have been been sent information which I believe to be untrue that 50,000 restaurants in Italy banded together to defy lockdown and opened, no masks, no distancing. The government gave up within 24 hours and has officially removed all restrictions.
This is being used to advocate similar actions in other countries.
I have told the person who sent me this information that I do not believe this as searching on the internet I can find no mention that the Italian government has caved in regarding lockdown.
I have now been told that our news outlets are censoring such information. It’s conspiracy theory to my mind and I want to give them a wake up call.
Please, can any members in Italy or anyone who has genuine knowledge of what is happening there please tell me the truth.

Someone has said something along the same lines as you on Facebook but can’t seem to find anything in the news about it. I’m very intrigued to see if this is true and we find out later on uk news?!

Interesting, just marking my place to follow the thread really

Not seen anything on world news outlet aljazeera.

I did read in the week about this happening, then the story was pulled.
Place marking as someone might know if it's true or what is going on.

Have a look at news on YouTube. There seems to be more information, (certainly about protests against lockdown restrictions in Europe) that is never broadcast on our own MSM.

That said, 50000 restaurants opening sounds pretty far fetched. I know about a dozen restaurants opened in a southern Polish town without too many problems despite a lockdown so you never know.. 50000, no way.

I've also seen this information shared by someone on my social media. No idea of the truth of it but the person is 100% this is all a cover up for something else so I never know what to believe

There has been a movement called "I'll Open" for a few weeks, at least! I think the Express covered it... maybe The Metro!

Restaurants accepting the fines and staying open becaue not all regions are in lockdown and they feel it is unfair that they have to close when others don't. They want an all or nothing approach!

But I have no idea how widespread it is. It could be just like the Stroud idiots here!

Ah! The Express

www.express.co.uk/news/world/1384945/Italy-news-coronavirus-lockdown-closure-restaurants-Giuseppe-Conte-latest-vn

nos.nl/artikel/2364596-duizenden-restaurants-in-italie-blijven-open-uit-protest.html

A Dutch website has reported on 16th Jan that restaurants in Italy defied lockdown regulations and stayed open after 6pm.

Very odd that we haven't heard anything of the sort here at all about it.

@DripDrip

Interesting, just marking my place to follow the thread really

Me too

Of course it isn't true.

Don’t know anything about this site but
www.rt.com/op-ed/512896-lockdowns-italy-bars-restaurants-civil-disobedience-reopen/

www.euronews.com/2021/01/16/this-is-civil-disobedience-restaurants-in-rome-defy-coronavirus-closures

I'm in Italy, in a big northern city and all the restaurants (bar one!) are closed except for takeaways. The one that keeps on trying to open (and I imagine getting fined) is very unpopular with most people I know as obviously it is unfair to the others.

Some restaurants defying lockdown is possible.

But think about the second bit "The government gave up within 24 hours and has officially removed all restrictions."

Do you think that's likely? That a government just went, ah well - we don't really need a functioning health system. Fuck it.

So... a little bit of truth being spread a long way then @Sometimesonly?

It is like the Stroud twonks here!

Not representative but there are 3 Italian restaurants on my facebook feed (all run by cousins, old friends)...the two restaurants are doing takeaway only and the more casual 'bar' is open for breakfast and lunch.

Their bit of Italy swings between being red zone and yellow zone. I think they are red again so the bar may have shut again.

Hmm, I chat to someone in Italy every week. Their lockdown seems pretty strict and law abiding!

She's not eating out in any restaurants either.

Interesting I had a post on FB today from s restaurant that I follow in Southern Italy which was puzzling, but in the light if this I can see it could be a coded message if this really is s thing -it would make sense in that context.

OK - just found an article about the protest (which I had heard nothing about before mumsnet!) in my city and apparently it was a flop here. Four restaurants which opened and 55 diners were fined and apparently there was a lot of chatter on social media beforehand but most people backed out at the last moment.

Their bit of Italy swings between being red zone and yellow zone. I think they are red again so the bar may have shut again.

We are orange at the moment so bars and restaurants can open but only for takeaway. Curfew is at 10.

I watch the webcams of Florence and Rome and it’s very quiet indeed - no signs of anything open

The government gave up within 24 hours and has officially removed all restrictions

Well if they did, they cunningly didn't tell anybody!

My block of flats has a bar on the ground floor (very handy for a quick espresso!) and he is very strict with the rules. It is tiny so currently only one customer allowed in at a time for takeaway only. I don't even need to look up which colour zone we are in - I can just go down to the bar and see if he has his tables set up or not!

I am in Venice , yes there has been a protest but it was more symbolic rather than actual and 50,000 places is rubbish. This was launched as the financial asistance has been rubbish in many sectors , taxes not postponed etc so some decided to open . From what I can see it was very short lived and many just opened turned the lights on but did not open as a full restaurant. All the places I know are doing take away only, curfew is 10 pm . And we wear masks outside all the time!

If you are in a yellow zone I think you can open at lunch time only but as I am in Orange I am not really following !

Thank you to those who have firsthand knowledge and have responded.

Looks like I was correct in my assumptions.
Any other views welcome.