The Mayor of the Italian city of Messina has gone on hunger strike to protest against the government’s coronavirus containment measures.

Cateno De Luca had already set up a tent in the port of the Sicilian city at the weekend, where he has been sleeping ever since.

His intention is to symbolically “block” the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the Italian mainland.

De Luca was protesting the rule which states that only vaccinated or convalescent people can enter or leave the Mediterranean Island on ferries or by plane.

The politician claims the state was holding Sicily “captive.” On Monday, he submitted his resignation as Mayor with effect from February.

On Tuesday morning, the 49-year-old announced the start of the hunger strike on his Facebook account.

The government in Rome had issued stricter rules on Jan. 10 to curb the spread of the virus and make those refusing to get vaccinated change their minds.

The vaccinated or convalescent rule now applies in hotels, congress centres, restaurants, ski lifts and local and long distance transport like ferries.

So far, almost 80 percent of Italians have received full vaccination protection.

NAN