Italy Coronavirus Update 2021
We all hoped that 2021 would bring an end to the nightmare that was 2020 and with it the easing of Coronavirus restrictions in Italy, however we were not quite so lucky.
As we enter this new year, we are faced with continued challenges. On January 15, PM Conte released the latest Covid-19 Decree for Italy which spans from January 15 through March 5, 2021. While not a lot has changed, there are a few things we would like to tell you about that are a little bit different, and might even give us some hope.
WHITE ZONES
While Italy continues to follow its colored zone restrictions that we told you about in our previous post, there will be an additional “white zone” added, and regions around the country have been reclassified. What is the White Zone? It is the latest classification which holds the least restrictions for those regions with the lowest covid risk. Within the white zone, the region is no longer subject to the restrictions of the other color zones, there is no curfew and restaurants and pubs may stay open past the 6pm deadline of the other zones. To qualify for this white zone status, the Rt value must remain below 1, and the region must have fewer than 50 cases per 100,000 for a minimum of three weeks. Unfortunately at this time, no regions qualify for white zone classification.
NEW ZONE CLASSIFICATION
All regions have been reassessed and reclassified with this latest decree, and most of the country will go from yellow to orange, with three regions going back to red. Here is a map of the zones as of January 17, 2021.
Red Zones: Lombardy, Sicily and Bolzano
Orange Zones: Abruzzo, Calabria, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Marche, Piedmont, Puglia, Umbria, Valle D’Aosta, Veneto
Yellow Zones: Basilicata, Campania, Molise, Sardinia, Tuscany, Trento
MUSEUMS
In some other news, it has been determined that museums may open in yellow zones, but only on the weekdays Monday through Friday. This is a step in the right direction for agencies like ours.
TRAVEL
The travel ban between regions will continue until at least February 15, at which time the government will reassess it. This ban also includes the previously excluded yellow zones.
FITNESS
Unfortunately gyms and swimming pools will remain closed until March 5, but exercise is still allowed individually outdoors.
STATE OF EMERGENCY
In a separate announcement, PM Conte has extended the Italy State of Emergency to April 30th, this is separate from the decree with restrictions and stays in place simply to allow the government to react to covid-19 issues swiftly without normal bureaucracy in times of crises when fast action is required.
