The regions of Emilia Romagna, Lombardy, Lazio, Piedmont and Puglia, and the autonomous province of Trento, have had their risk level downgraded to ‘white’ zone status as of Monday June 14th.
The health minister signed an ordinance confirming the changes on Friday evening.
Regions given the lowest-risk ‘white’ classifcation can drop most of the restrictions which remain in place in yellow zones, including the nighttime curfew.
EXPLAINED: What are the rules in Italy’s coronavirus ‘white zones’?
“The vaccination campaign is progressing fast, and the incidence rate is at a level that allows the containment of new cases. More regions will move into the white zone”, announced Health Minister Roberto Speranza on Friday, after the latest weekly coronavirus monitoring report from the health ministry and the Higher Health Institute (ISS) confirmed Italy’s coronavirus numbers remained low agan this week.
The report, based on data from June 4-10, said Italy’s 7-day incidence rate had fallen again to 25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The national average Rt reproduction number, which shows the rate of new infectons, remained at 0.68.
The latest review of the regional system means a total of 12 of Italy’s 21 regions and autonomous provinces will be white zones from Monday, after Abruzzo, Liguria, Umbria and Veneto were downgraded last week.
To be placed in the the low-restriction white zone, regions must have registered fewer than 50 coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants for three weeks consecutively.
The classification means regional authorities are allowed to drop most of the remaining coronavirus restrictions earlier than planned under the national roadmap for reopening.
So far, only mask-wearing and social distancing rules must remain in place in white zones, the health minister has said. House parties and large gatherngs are also forbidden.
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.
Italy’s evening curfew – which is not applicable in white zones – now starts from midnight as of June 7th, and will be scrapped completely on June 21st.
The final set of rules in each region depends on the local authority, as each is free to impose stricter rules than those set by the national government.
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