Italian Governor Says He Was Called ‘Racist’ for Wanting to Test Travelers From China

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The Governer in the most affected area in Italy said he was called “racist” by his associates and colleagues because he wanted to implement coronavirus testing on those travelling from China into Italy back in February.

According to Breitbart News, Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana said he was “mocked with insolent words” and called “racist” by his colleagues who worked in government.

“Your Prime Minister, on February 3, said publicly: ‘don’t worry, you don’t have to foresee any pandemic because our system is ready to face any kind of emergency,’” Fontana said during debate on Italy’s coronavirus crisis.

“I am surprised that you accuse me of underestimating the problem,” Fontana added, while someone yelled “Shame!” at him.

“You were the ones who told me that I was racist when I asked for checks on all citizens who came back from China,” said Fontana. “I was mocked with insolent words.”

“I was told that I was the cause of Italy’s loss of credibility with the world because I tried to warn that the rules had to be strictly followed because otherwise we would have ended up in a dramatic situation,” he continued.

The governor noted that the Italy’s Higher Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS)) made home wait for certification to do so.
“Unfortunately, the Higher Institute of Health said that the first meeting to evaluate this certification has been postponed to next week,” said Fontana.

“I believe they should not say, ‘We’ll give an answer in a few weeks,’ thinking that they’re doing us a favor,” he added. “We need answers in hours, not weeks.”

“Unless they [ISS] have yet to realize that we are in a state of emergency,” the governor quipped. “Since no one gives us masks anyway, at least give us permission to produce them.”