SAN MARINO – The restaurants and bars of the state of San Marino are remaining open beyond 6 p.m., creating friction, particularly with nearby Emilia Romagna, political sources said on Wednesday.

 But the government of the small republic of 64 square kilometres, bordering Emilia-Romagna and the Marche, has no intention of following Italy's lead in terms of early closures.

  "San Marino is different from Italy, it has a small population in a proportionately larger territory," San Marino Secretary of State Teodoro Lonfernini said.

 “It also has a limited number of public businesses, so control is simpler; tracking works here. Closing bars, restaurants and pastry shops at 6 p.m. is frankly absurd."

 In the tiny state, public businesses can remain open as long as they adhere to mask mandates, social distancing and customer registration.

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