Speaking at a ceremony held before parliament’s summer recess, Mattarella stressed that all Italians should continue to take basic precautions to combat the spread of the virus, such as social distancing, the use of face masks in enclosed spaces, and washing hands frequently.
Mattarella paid tribute to the more than 35,000 people who have died in Italy due to coronavirus to date, saying “four months ago, over 800 of our compatriots died in just one day”, Italian news agency ANSA reported.
“This is a reason for us to not lower out defences,” he said.
“Learning to live with the virus does not mean behaving like it no longer exists.
“One must not confuse liberty with the right to make others ill.
“Out of respect for the dead, we cannot and must not undo the sacrifices made by our fellow citizens, whose behaviour allowed us to have greater confidence today.
“Elsewhere, refusal or inability to follow those behaviours is causing dramatic consequences.”
The president also thanked the sacrifices of healthcare workers and the countries that came to Italy’s aid at the peak of its coronavirus emergency.
His words echoed the warnings of Italy’s health minister and other public health officials, who have repeatedly warned Italians in recent weeks to remain vigilant amid fears of a potential second wave of infections across Europe.
Offical data shows that the infection rate in Italy has remained generally stable overall during the past month, despite a slight rise in recent days.
