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| - Italy's government on Thursday announced the postponement of a round of local elections until after the summer as the coronavirus pandemic continues to grip the country. A number of important cities, including Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin and Bologna were due to elect new mayors in June, but a worsening pandemic situation would have made campaigning difficult. Instead, voting will take place at a yet-to-be-defined date between September 15 and October 15, a statement from Prime Minister Mario Draghi's office said after a cabinet meeting. The decision will also force the rescheduling of regional elections in southern Calabria due in April, and of other local ballots, including by-elections for the national parliament. Italy is one of the countries worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with almost 99,000 deaths and nearly three million cases -- about five percent of the population. Over the coming days, authorities are expected to toughen anti-virus restrictions as concern mounts over a new spike in case fuelled by the spread of new variants of the coronavirus. aa/spm
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