Italy's Health Minister Roberto Speranza decided on Friday (9) to relax measures against the spread of the new coronavirus (Sars-CoV-2) in six Italian regions.
With this, from next Monday (12), Calabria, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piedmont and Tuscany progress to the orange zone.
The regions join Abruzzo, Basilicata, Lazio, Liguria, Marche, Molise, Sicily, Umbria, Veneto and the provinces of Bolzano and Trento.
Under this regime, there are no restrictions on movement within the municipality itself, and it is possible to reopen non-essential businesses, but bars and restaurants remain closed.
A national curfew between 22pm and 5am the following morning remains in force.
A month ago, Sardinia was the only region with the lowest restriction level, white. But due to the acceleration of the health emergency, it will be moved from orange to the red band, as well as Campania, Puglia and Aosta Valley.
“The closures and red areas are bringing the first results, but the context is still very complicated and we must be very cautious,” explained Speranza.
According to data from Higher Institute of Health (ISS), new infections have fallen by 30% in the last five days compared to the same period last week. In most territories, the transmission index (Rt) went from 0,98 to 0,92. Generally, a rate above 1 indicates that the number of cases will grow exponentially.
In total, as of Monday, there will be 16 regions in the orange zone and four in the red. (ANSA)
