Police in Italy enforce restrictions on Christmas gatherings of families

Italian carabinieri officers check vehicles in front of St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican (Cecilia Fabiano/AP)

Police in Italy are out in force to implement new Covid-19 travel restrictions aimed at preventing far-flung families from gathering for Christmas as public health officials appeal for common sense to protect the elderly from infection.

Italy went into a modified nationwide lockdown for the Christmas and New Year period.