Italy: Authorities ease COVID-19 restrictions in five regions November 29 /update 50

Event

On Friday, November 27, Italy's health authorities announced that five regions will be downgraded in terms of their coronavirus disease (COVID-19) color-coded risk status from Sunday, November 29. The red zone regions of Calabria, Lombardy, and Piedmont will be downgraded to orange zones and the orange zones of Liguria and Sicily will become yellow zones. The color-coded classification of red (highest risk), orange (medium risk), and yellow (lowest risk) zones for all regions came into effect on November 6. The color of the zone determines what measures will be in place to control the virus, with those in red zones being told to stay within their region and are only allowed to leave their homes for work, study, health, or other essential reasons.

As of November 29, the zone classification will be as follows:

• Red zone regions: Tuscany, Abruzzo, Campania, Valle d'Aosta, province of Bolzano
• Orange zone regions: Puglia, Calabria, Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna, Marche, Umbria, Basilicata, Friuii-Venezia-Giulia
• Yellow zone regions: Liguria, Sicily, Sardinia, Lazio, Molise, Veneto, province of Trento

A nationwide nightly curfew between 22:00-05:00 (local time) was imposed on November 5. Regardless of what zone residents are in, they are required to stay at home during these hours except for work or health reasons. Additionally, the government has implemented the mandatory closure of cinemas, swimming pools, and gyms with bars and restaurants only permitted to open until 18:00 nationwide. Most other shops and businesses may continue operating. The majority of secondary school classes are to be taught online under the new restrictions. People are encouraged to remain at home and to limit mixing with other households.

A state of emergency in Italy has been extended until January 31, 2021, and face masks are compulsory outdoors and in enclosed public spaces between 18:00 and 06:00. Travel restrictions remain in place, with arrivals permitted from some countries and restrictions vary based on the infection rates in these countries. A full list of restrictions can be found here.

As of November 27, there have been 1,538,217 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Italy, with 53,677 associated deaths. Further international spread of the virus is expected over the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.