Covid, the truth of Bignami in audition: "Limited availability of masks but Italy donated tons to China"

On Thursday, Italian parliamentarian Galeazzo Bignami, representing the Fratelli d’Italia party, testified before a parliamentary committee investigating the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. During his testimony, Bignami took full responsibility for his statements, stating he would bear both civil and potential criminal liability for anything he might say. He emphasized that the government had issues with transparency regarding its pandemic plans. Bignami alleged that the Ministry of Health failed to respond to his request for documents related to a supposed secret pandemic plan. After multiple attempts, including sending a new email, he was told the ministry could not provide the requested materials. As a result, he decided to file a complaint with the regional court. According to him, officials claimed there was no such secret plan, yet he insisted it did exist. He further noted that Senator Andrea Crisanti, a member of the Democratic Party, had previously written that the 2006 pandemic plan could have been useful in dealing with the outbreak. The 2006 plan, according to Bignami, included provisions for involving the public in efforts to contain the spread of the virus. He argued that this plan was similar to the so-called secret plan, which lacked a specified date. The 2006 plan, he explained, functioned much like a fire prevention system, providing time to prepare. When asked whether he had submitted an official complaint, Bignami confirmed he had done so on April 14, 2021. However, when questioned about the current status of that complaint, he admitted he did not know. Bignami also addressed early stages of the pandemic, recalling that on January 23, 2020, an airplane arrived at Rome's Fiumicino Airport carrying 202 passengers from China. At that time, health checks were limited to thermal scans, and passengers were allowed to move freely without being tracked. This detail, he pointed out, was significant because the Chinese government had already closed Wuhan just days earlier. Despite this, Italian authorities permitted the passengers to circulate freely. He also referenced a meeting held by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on January 17, 2020, during which discussions focused on measures to contain the virus, particularly concerning airports. From the minutes of the meeting, Bignami stated that it was noted that Italy was absent from the discussion. He learned of this absence through an article published by The Guardian, which highlighted that Italy had not responded to communications sent to them. In addition to these points, Bignami raised concerns over the lack of updated information and the role of certain individuals within the Ministry of Health tasked with updating the pandemic plan. His testimony has sparked renewed interest in the transparency and preparedness of Italy’s initial response to the coronavirus crisis. As the investigation continues, further details and responses from relevant parties will likely emerge.