🥇 First rule of investing? Know when to save! Up to 55% off InvestingPro before BLACK FRIDAYCLAIM SALE

Italy, Vatican lower flags, observe silence to honor coronavirus dead

Published 2020-03-31, 12:36 p/m
© Reuters. Spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bari

By Emily Roe

ROME (Reuters) - Italians marked a minute of silence and flags at government buildings were lowered to half mast on Tuesday to honor the thousands of victims of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Vatican, a tiny city-state surrounded by Rome, lowered its own yellow-and-white flags. Italians on the other side of the border lowered their green, white and red national tri-color as well as the flags of their cities and of the European Union.

The initiative was promoted by a group of mayors to show solidarity with the towns suffering the most in the north, the epicenter of the crisis.

Italy is the world's hardest hit country in terms of deaths and accounts for more than a third of all global fatalities.

"This moment of silence of mayors, in which even the presidential palace and the Vatican participated, is an important moment for our country, showing unity from north to south," said Antonio Decaro, mayor of the southern city of Bari, which so far has been spared the worst of the outbreak.

Mayors wearing their official tri-color sashes and some donning surgical masks looked on somberly as buglers played on empty streets that before the lockdown to try to contain the virus would have been packed with residents and tourists.

Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro stood by the unusually still waters of a canal, free of boat traffic because of the national lockdown.

"All the mayors have gathered together in a kind of ideal embrace, most importantly to be close to the places that are suffering the most, where the virus has been the most ferocious, to be close to the mourning for those who have died," Decaro said.

The lockdown was due to end on Friday, but has been extended until sometime after Easter, which falls on April 12 this year.

As the total number of dead on Tuesday rose by another 837 to well over 12,000, Decaro said the mayors' initiative was a sign of respect for all suffering families.

© Reuters. Spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bari

"We are trying to send a message of hope," he said.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.