ROME, Italy: Thousands of protesters, including members of far-right groups, demonstrated in central Rome on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) against the extension of the Covid-19 health pass system to all workplaces. There were scuffles with police as the demonstrators took aim at the health pass, which has been a requirement to enter museums, sporting events and restaurants since August. Although the march was authorized, several hundred people broke off from the main column and tried to march on parliament. Police used water cannons and tear gas to stop them, arresting several protesters during clashes, the AGI news agency reported. A separate protest took place in the capital and others in the northern city of Milan and in Cesena, central Italy. Three weeks ago, the government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced that the scheme would be extended to all places of work from October 15 and any employees refusing to comply faced suspension without pay. The health pass system is already in place for all medical workers. It requires people to provide a certificate of vaccination, proof of recovery from Covid-19 or a recent negative test result.
