Maria Teresa Meli on Il Corriere della Sera interviewed the Minister of Defense, Lorenzo Guerini, on the Covid-19 emergency and on the contribution of the Italian military since the emergency began. The words of the Minister of Defense provide greater clarity on the commitment of our Armed Forces which, in silence, have never left the territory and are also ready to increase the effort to support citizenship and the Nation. An effort that focuses, in addition to the normal tasks of the Institute, also on the health, logistics and control sector of the territory in aid of the police. Thus the Minister of Defense, Guerini. 
Does the approved decree also involve the Defense ?: "Yes. But first let me say one thing: the Italians can count on the fact that armed forces are ready to do their part as they are already doing where it is needed. With this decree we implement the efforts that the armed forces and the Defense as a whole are already carrying out to make their contribution in facing the emergency of the coronavirus. This provision allows the extraordinary recruitment of temporary military medical personnel and the purchase of bio-containment patient transport material, and provides additional tools to defense industries for the production of useful materials, such as i disinfectants."
The work of the Armed Forces"There is the more purely health sector in which we have already engaged in Lombardy at the moment 120 between military doctors and nurses. The last ones are those sent to Bergamo the other night. To these will be added in the coming days other doctors and nurses who will go to Piacenza. From time to time we will have other military health personnel who will be used as needed. I should add that we have also decided to support new forces that will be hired on a temporary basis with the decree to face the emergency. Finally, to date, we have used 6 of the structures that we have made available, where we host patients under observation. 4 bio-containment helicopters and some ambulances are also used. "
Field hospitals"We already have field hospitals available to which we added two more by decree. They will be used when needed. At the moment we have installed, where necessary, curtains for triage of patients, to help the work of the first aid".
Police duties"The armed forces carry out auxiliary work to the police force when asked for particular situations. Such as the management of the control of the red areas, where we have employed our military to assist the police forces in the control of the territory and compliance with the ordinances. The contingent of "safe roads" has over seven thousand soldiers, but we can also use other forces that are available for the needs that should arise, which are first verified at a territorial level by the prefects, and then centrally by the public security department. . There are precise and transparent procedures for the use of the armed forces. Which, I would like to remind, therethey work with professionalism and dedication. And I think everyone should be thanked: police and military. How civil and military health workers should be thanked for their great sacrifice "
Lodi, hasn't the government made any mistakes ?: "We were confronted with a completely new scenario, adopting emergency measures to deal with a constantly evolving virus. We made some tough choices. We are aware of this, but choices were necessary because the government's top priority was the protection of the health of our fellow citizens. And the fact that now all the other countries are following our experience shows that ours have been chosen correctly, taken on the basis of the indications of the scientific community. Of course, in order to be effective, these measures need collaboration at all institutional levels and also between the majority and the opposition, which I believe has basically taken place. Secondly, there is a need for the participation of citizens, who responded with great responsibility. They know that these sacrifices are for the protection of their health and their cari ".