Multiple areas in Italy will be locked down from Monday, the Italian Ministry of Health announced on Friday.
The most populated areas including Lombardy and Lazio, where Rome is situated, can be classified as “red zones” which is Italy’s maximum level of coronavirus restrictions.
Non-essential shops and restaurants have to shut in a red zone. Travel can be limited to work requirements, the purchase of basic necessities, and health emergencies.
All areas in Italy will move to the red zone over the Easter vacation from April 3 to 5, Italian media reported as well.
Areas that have an incidence rate of more than 250 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants will automatically go into the red zone moving forward.
Italy’s health ministry had mentioned in their most recent situation report that there had been a “deterioration” of the coronavirus risk level in the nation amid a rising incidence rate.
In early March, traveling between areas had already been prohibited. The nation had also imposed a curfew from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am.
The nation reported more than 26,000 COVID-19 cases and some 380 deaths in the past day due to coronavirus. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the nation has recorded more than 3.1 million cases and deplored the demise of 101,564 individuals — making it the hardest-hit EU nation.
More than 6.3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been administered.
