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MAP: Which parts of Italy are now Covid-19 ‘white zones’?

As almost all Italian regions are declared low-risk coronavirus 'white' zones from Monday, here's a closer look at what that means for residents and visitors.

Published: 19 May 2021 13:08 CEST
Updated: 19 June 2021 11:02 CEST
MAP: Which parts of Italy are now Covid-19 'white zones'?
Tourists stroll across the Ponte della Paglia bridge by the Doge's palace in Venice. (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP)

This article was last updated on June 19th

Almost all remaining ‘yellow’ zones are being downgraded to the lowest risk classification ‘white’ zone status as of Monday June 21st.

The regions of Tuscany, Marche, Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, Sicily and the Autonomous Province of Bolzano will move from their yellow category, joining the rest of the country’s ‘white zones’.

The only area to remain a ‘yellow zone’ will be the northern region of Valle d’Aosta.

Under ‘white zone’ rules, regions can drop most of the restrictions currently in place in yellow zones, including the midnight curfew and the remaining restrictions on businesses and events.

READ ALSO: Delta variant in Italy: What’s the risk of another Covid-19 surge?

The health ministry confirmed the changes on Friday after its weekly coronavirus monitoring report showed Italy’s coronavirus numbers remained low last week.

Italy is divided into different-coloured zones indicating the level of coronavirus restrictions in place, with ‘red’ being the highest-risk zones, followed by orange and yellow. All regions are currently white or yellow. 

Here’s the picture for Italy’s Covid-19 zones from June 21st:

Red zone: No regions
Orange zone: No regions
Yellow zone: Valle d’Aosta
White zone: Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Molise, Sardinia, Abruzzo, Liguria, Umbria, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Lombardy, Piedmont, Autonomous Province of Trento, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Marche, Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Sicily, Tuscany.

The map below shows how the country is divided:

What are the ‘white zone’ rules?

Regions are allowed to move into the low-restriction white zone if they have registered fewer than 50 coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants for three weeks consecutively.

They also need to show other positive indicators, including a reproduction rate (Rt) under 1.

Italy in January added the ‘white’ tier to its system of coronavirus restrictions for the parts of the country where the coronavirus risk is lowest. 

So far, only mask-wearing and social distancing rules must remain in place in white zones, the health minister has said.

Regions in the white zone will be able to drop the last remaining restrictions, and reopen trade fairs, theme parks, conferences and indoor swimming pools and hold weddings earlier than planned under the national roadmap for reopening.

For now, nightclubs and discos are still waiting for a firm date for reopening, and it is not known if or when Italy may relax the rules on wearing masks outdoors.

And the final set of rules in each region depends on the local authority, as each is free to impose stricter restrictions than those set by the national government.

The Italian health ministry on Friday meanwhile announced it will reinstate a mandatory quarantine requirement for all UK arrivals from Monday amid concerns about the spreading Delta coronavirus variant.

Member comments

  1. There’s still no availability of free vaccines for everyone. We’ve been unable to apply for ASL due to lockdown.
    Staggering, but not surprising the obstacles to healthcare.

  2. This is not according to the ministero di salute, Piemonte is white as as below

    Complessivamente, quindi, la ripartizione delle Regioni e Province Autonome nelle diverse aree in base ai livelli di rischio a partire dal 7 giugno 2021 è la seguente:

    area rossa: (nessuna Regione e Provincia autonoma)
    area arancione: (nessuna Regione e Provincia Autonoma)
    area gialla: Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Marche, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano, Sicilia, Toscana, Valle d’Aosta
    area bianca: Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia, Molise, Piemonte, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Puglia,Sardegna, Umbria, Veneto

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EU

How would a ‘youth mobility scheme’ between the UK and EU really work?

The EU and the UK could enter into a 'youth mobility' scheme allowing young people to move countries to work, study and live. Here's what we know about the proposal.

Published: 18 April 2024 17:09 CEST
How would a 'youth mobility scheme' between the UK and EU really work?

Across the 27 countries of the EU, people of all ages can move countries to work, study, spend a long visit or chase the possibility of love – and all this is possible thanks to EU freedom of movement.

That freedom no longer extends to the UK. As a result of Brexit, a UK national who wants to move to an EU country, or an EU citizen who wants to move to the UK, will need a visa in order to do so.

However, a new ‘mobility scheme’ could re-create some elements of freedom of movement, if the EU and UK can come to an agreement.

The European Commission on Thursday announced proposals for a ‘youth mobility scheme’.

Who would benefit?

First things first, it’s only for the youngsters, older people will have to continue with the time-consuming and often expensive process of getting a visa for study, work or visiting.

The Commission’s proposal is for a scheme that covers people aged 18 to 30. 

Their reasoning is: “The withdrawal of the UK from the EU has resulted in decreased mobility between the EU and the UK. This situation has particularly affected the opportunities for young people to experience life on the other side of the Channel and to benefit from youth, cultural, educational, research and training exchanges.

“The proposal seeks to address in an innovative way the main barriers to mobility for young people experienced today and create a right for young people to travel from the EU to the UK and vice-versa more easily and for a longer period of time.”

How would it work?

We’re still at an early stage, but the proposal is to allow extended stays – for young people to be able to spend up to four years in the EU or UK – under a special type of visa or residency permit. It does not, therefore, replicate the paperwork-free travel of the pre-Brexit era.

The Commission states that travel should not be ‘purpose bound’ to allow young people to undertake a variety of activities while they are abroad.

Under the visa system, people must travel to a country for a specific purpose which has been arranged before they leave – ie in order to study they need a student visa which requires proof of enrolment on a course, or if they intend to work they need a working visa which often requires sponsorship from an employer.

The proposal would allow young people to spend their time in a variety of ways – perhaps some time working, a period of study and then some time travelling or just relaxing.

It would also not be subject to national or Bloc-wide quotas.

It seems that some kind of visa or residency permit would still be required – but it would be issued for up to four years and could be used for a variety of activities.

Fees for this should not be “excessive” – and the UK’s health surcharge would not apply to people travelling under this scheme.

Are there conditions?

Other than the age qualification, the proposal is that young people would have to meet other criteria, including having comprehensive health insurance, plus financial criteria to ensure that they will be able to support themselves while abroad.

The visa/residency permit could be rejected on the ground of threats to public policy, public security or public health.

Will this happen soon?

Slow down – what’s happened today is that the European Commission has made a recommendation to open negotiations.

This now needs to be discussed in the Council of Europe.

If the Council agrees then, and only then, will the EU open negotiations with the UK on the subject. The scheme could then only become a reality if the EU and UK come to an agreement on the terms of the scheme, and then refine the fine details.

Basically we’re talking years if it happens at all, and there’s plenty of steps along the way that could derail the whole process.

Don’t start packing just yet.

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