ROME: On Saturday, pandemic deniers organized a rally in the Italian capital, attracting a few thousand protesters in the historic center close to the Circus Maximus.
Organizers included the far-right Forza Nuova (FN) party, the anti-vax movement, and civic groups that denied virus, complaining of all precautionary measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the nation.
None of the demonstrators had been seen wearing a face mask at the rally.
The rally sparked condemnation by authorities. "We have people gathered in Rome today who think the pandemic doesn't exist," said Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte during an annual event broadcasted live online in Rome.
The Health Ministry reported 276,338 cases of coronavirus in the country as a whole in the daily statistical update late on Saturday, with a rise of 1,695 cases over the last 24 hours, and 35,534 deaths.
(With inputs from agencies)
