Italy likely to extend state of emergency due to coronavirus crisis: PM

ROME:

Italy

will likely extend a state of emergency beyond its

current deadline

of July 31 due to the

new coronavirus crisis

,

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte

said on Friday.


"The possible extension simply means that we are in a position to continue taking the necessary measures" to face the epidemic, Conte said, speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony in

Venice

.

Italy declared a six-month state of emergency at the end of January, allowing the government to cut through red tape quickly if needed, after two Chinese tourists tested positive for the new coronavirus in the first cases detected in the country.