ROME: Pandemic deniers held a protest in the Italian capital on Saturday, drawing a few thousand people near the Circus Maximus in the historic center.
Organizers included the far-right Forza Nuova (FN) party, the anti-vax movement, and virus-denying civic groups, which complained about all precautionary measures to fight the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.
None of the protesters at the demonstration was seen wearing a face mask.
The rally sparked condemnation by authorities. “Today we have people gathering in Rome, who think the pandemic does not exist,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said during an annual event in Rome broadcast live online.
In the daily statistical update late on Saturday, the Health Ministry confirmed 276,338 coronavirus cases in the country overall, with an increase of 1,695 cases over the last 24 hours, and 35,534 fatalities.
(With inputs from agencies)
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