"Curfew for All Residents"... Absurd Italian Law Without Emergency Rooms

An absurd ordinance banning residents from contracting diseases that require emergency medical support has been announced in a village in Italy, drawing attention.

According to foreign media reports on the 12th, CNN reported on the 9th (local time) that in the village of Belcastro in Calabria, southern Italy, residents were recently notified under the ordinance to "not contract diseases that require emergency medical support."

The ordinance also includes requests to avoid taking health risks or accidents, refrain from traveling or playing sports, and stay at home. CNN reported that it is unclear how exactly this ordinance will be enforced.

Regarding this unrealistic ordinance, Mayor Antonio Torchia told local media, "It was created to highlight the poor medical accessibility in Belcastro."

He added, "This is not just a provocation, but a cry for help to the authorities and a way to raise awareness of the difficult situation in the village."

Belcastro Village
[Image source=Captured from Comune di Belcastro Facebook]

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Southern Italy, including Sicily, Calabria, and Campania, is relatively economically disadvantaged compared to the industrialized north, which has a heavy industry-based economy, as the south's economy is centered on dairy farming. This disparity deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic as cities underwent lockdowns.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, the north, with economic and financial hubs like Milan and famous tourist cities, had relatively well-established medical systems. However, the poor south suffered more as Italy faced a financial crisis and cut budgets, significantly reducing spending on healthcare and welfare.

The village of Belcastro in Calabria is known as one of the poorest areas in Italy, with a population of 1,300. Many young people have left the rural area, causing depopulation issues. Half of the village's population consists of elderly residents, increasing the likelihood of emergencies.

According to the New York Post, 18 hospitals in Belcastro have closed since 2009. The remaining local hospitals frequently close, and there are no on-duty doctors during holidays or outside working hours. The nearest emergency room is about 45 km away from the village. Moreover, the road to the emergency room is 30 km long with a speed limit.

Mayor Torchia said, "The ordinance remains valid until the village's public medical center regularly opens," adding, "If essential services are not provided to Belcastro, the village will disappear within 10 years."

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