Italy: Most regions under relaxed ‘yellow zone’ Covid rules from Monday

Italy: Most regions under relaxed ‘yellow zone’ Covid rules from Monday

Rome: The Covid-19 rules are to be eased next week in much of Italy with the reintroduction of yellow zones, meaning many businesses can reopen and restrictions on movement will be lifted.

The majority of the country’s 20 regions and autonomous provinces are to become lower-risk yellow zones from Monday April 26th, according to a health ministry ordinance released here.

Five regions are to remain in the moderate-risk orange zone: Basilicata, Calabria, Puglia, Sicily and Valle d’Aosta

The island of Sardinia will be the only region to remain in the highest-risk red zone. All other regions will be placed under lower-level yellow zone restrictions.

The health minister is expected to sign the ordinance on Friday evening making the zone changes official.

Italy’s coronavirus Rt reproduction number has fallen to 0.81, down from 0.85 last week, the latest weekly coronavirus monitoring report from the health ministry and the Higher Health Institute (ISS) showed.

The number of new cases fell to 157.4 for every 100,000 inhabitants, down from 160.5 in the previous week, officials said at a press conference.

This is still a long way from the 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants that would make it possible to resume tracing and tracking, however it does mean pressure has eased on hospitals in most regions, health officials said.

The lower-level yellow zone classification returns to the map on Monday after the government announced last week it would begin slowly easing restrictions ahead of summer.