Italy: Coronavirus risk level downgraded in five more regions
Rome: Most Italian regions were classed as yellow zones on Sunday, with coronavirus risk levels downgraded in four more regions.
As of Sunday, December 13th, people in five regions will find themselves with a little more freedom after their risk level was downgraded.
Italy’s health ministry announced the latest changes to the tiered system of coronavirus rules in a press conference on Friday evening.
Orange zones Lombardy, Piedmont, Basilicata and Calabria will turn yellow.
The red-zone region of Abruzzo will become orange. Though Italy’s health ministry has classified Abruzzo as the last remaining red zone, the regional government has proclaimed itself an orange zone via a local ordinance.
The current classifications in other regions will remain in place, with Tuscany, Campania and Valle D’Aosta remaining in the orange zone.
The classificatons are made based on the coronavirus situaton locally according to a weekly analysis of each region’s weekly health data by the health ministry together with the Higher Health Institure (ISS).
Italian health minister Roberto Speranza will sign an ordinance on Friday night confirming the changes.
This means that most of the country will be yellow from Sunday, with only …. classed as orange zones.
Yellow zones remain under the baseline restrictions in place everywhere in Italy, including a nightly curfew. Bars and restaurants may reopen in yellow regions, but only until 6pm.
The Christmas travel restrictions announced this month will apply across the country regardless of zone.
Domestic travel will be limited not only within the higher-risk zones classed as red or orange, but also between all regions from December 21st to January 6th.
An additional restriction on travel between towns is planned for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, however this rule may yet be revised.
Italy recorded 8,727 new coronavirus infections within the past 24 hours on Friday, health authorities said, and 887 more deaths.
