ROME: Italy has extended a number of covid19-related restrictions until the end of April, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced after a meeting. However, the state wants to reopen schools for younger children after Easter.

Further, a new order passed by the cabinet provides for compulsory vaccination for many workers in the medical field and in other parts of the healthcare system. Employees in hospitals and pharmacies who refuse to be vaccinated are to be assigned other tasks that do not pose a risk of infection. Children up to the sixth grade should return to classrooms - even in the particularly affected so-called red zones.

Italy also aims to gradually end distance learning for older pupils. Many regulations, such as the extended restrictions on freedom of movement, will run until April 30.

Following Wednesday's meeting, the Italian Cabinet also gave the green light for plans to ban cruise ships from the area around Venice's city centre. The cabinet said that proposals should be sought out for the construction of berths for large passenger ships and container ships some distance away from historic sites.

A corresponding decree stipulates that large ships must dock outside the Venetian lagoon, Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said.

As of Thursday, Italy has reported a total of 3,584,899 coronavirus cases and 109,346 deaths.

Pfizer: Hong Kong to resume BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine after packaging defects

Belgium and Netherland wins World Cup Qualifying Match, check detail here

Italy grants Open Arms, permission to bring rescued migrants to Sicily