*Please note this article is no longer being updated. See the latest reports on the coronavirus situation in Italy here. For Italy’s new lockdown rules in each region, click here.*
Under Italy’s current emergency decree, a national tiered framework means some Covid-19 rules differ based on where you are in Italy.
Regions are divided into red, orange, yellow and white zones, under a system based on how severe the coronavirus situation is locally.
People in the highest-risk red zones are told to stay within their town, and are only allowed to leave for work, study, health or other urgent reasons.
The regional rules first came into effect on November 6th, and the classification is now revised weekly on Fridays based on the latest health data.
Under the latest emergency decree, the government stated that the changes will come into effect on Mondays, rather than Sundays as has been the case previously.
READ ALSO: Regional restrictions to continue as Italian PM signs new emergency decree
On Friday March 5th Italy’s health minister signed the latest ordinance moving two more regions into the orange zone and one into the red zone.
This means that from Monday, March 8th, Italy’s regions are classified as follows:
- Yellow zones:Calabria, Lazio, Liguria, Puglia, Sicily, Valle d’Aosta
- Orange zones: Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont, Tuscany, Autonomous province of Bolzano, Autonomous province of Trento, Umbria, Veneto
- Red zones: Basilicata, Campania, Molise (Local lockdowns are also in place in some towns and provinces.)
- White zones: Sardinia
Note that in addition to the regional classifications, many towns and provinces have declared their own additional restrictions. See the current list here.
According to the Italian health ministry, people in orange zones are not allowed to travel from one municipality (town) to another, unless for essential reasons, by either public or private transport.
Bars, cafes, restaurants, pastry shops and other food businesses are closed.
Home delivery is still allowed, and takeaway is permitted until curfew at 10pm.
Museums and art galleries are closed.
All shops can remain open.
Hairdressers and beauticians can remain open.
Visits to the homes of family and friends outside your municipality are not allowed.
You can leave your municipality to visit your second home.
Red zones:
In red zones, all the orange zone rules apply, plus:
In addition to not being allowed to travel from one municipality to another, people in red zones are not allowed to move around within their own area unless for essential reasons, by either public or private transport.
You can only enter or leave an orange or red zone for the same urgent reasons.
All schools in red zones are closed.
Shops are to close except for those deemed essential, which include supermarkets and other food shops, tabacchi, and pharmacies.
Hairdressers and beauticians are closed.
Visits to relatives and friends are not allowed, even within your own municipality,
Travel to second homes is also prohibited in red zones.
All team sports activities are suspended (solo exercise such as running or walking is allowed.)
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What is the pink area?
what are the rules for using 2nd homes in yellow or red zones?
the pink area is Bolzano area which is autonomous
We have been in Piemonte since early October but need to return to the UK soon. We shall be driving in our own vehicle through France. Apart from complying with entry requirements for France and the UK are we permitted to leave Piemonte/Italy and, if so, are there any additional requirements with which we must comply in undertaking this journey? All the guidance seems only to talk about entering, not leaving, Italy. Thanks. Gerry
The article about “auto dichiarazione” doesn’t mention day-time travel in the red zone. It does seem, from the text of this article, that such a declaration IS required for day-time travel. Could you clarify this, please?
Gerry, there is some guidance in Italian here: https://www.esteri.it/mae/it/ministero/normativaonline/decreto-iorestoacasa-domande-frequenti/focus-cittadini-italiani-in-rientro-dall-estero-e-cittadini-stranieri-in-italia.html
If it is up to date then there is no restriction on your leaving Piemonte to return to your main residence in the UK. I would take the precaution though of filling in the declaration, checking the third radio button “altri motivi ..” and completing it with “rientro a domicilio nel Regno Unito”.
Thanks, Michael – I will check out the website.
Ciao, would you please update the map across the site? It is somewhat misleading.
Grazie!
The Local needs to do some basic proof reading so as not to dangerously mislead it’s readers. Both as to their health and advice as to not breaking the law. The map says Marche is orange whereas the list on the same, updated, page says it is yellow.
Hello Stephen, both the map and the list is correct – there may be some disparity shortly after announcements are made while we are updating the page. Please bear with us as we work at all hours to keep up with these announcements.
Can we update this for the changes on 6 December? It’ll be great seeing the majority of the map in yellow once more. Perhaps the aim of a yellow Christmas is within reach (of course whatever zone you’re in doesn’t change the Christmas lockdown but it would be great going into 2021 with low infections).
Hi! Can I travel through the regions to get to my home which I have owned for 18 years, despite not having residency? We will be in our own car driving from Mont Blanc tunnel to Lucca in 8 hours with a negative Covid test.
From my understanding this is allowed, but you will have to respect the rules of the zone at the time (orange currently), just in case you’re stopped by the police make sure you have the proof of your covid test.
As Lucca is currently in the orange zone you won’t be able to travel to neighbouring towns without good reason and you wouldn’t be able to stop off in towns in the yellow zone on the way back to France.
You must also avoid travelling into Italy between 21 Dec and 6 Jan otherwise you will have to quarantine 14 days even if you have a test.
I just subscribed a few weeks ago, hoping this would be a reliable source of information, especially regarding necessary COVID information. It is disappointing to see errors on this site regarding these matters, such as in the article above, where the map shows (and calls out) Marche as being a Yellow Zone. But then the text of the article states that Marche is in an Orange Zone. There is no excuse for this carelessness. Does anyone edit the articles?
The update on 31 Jan does not give the list of rules that apply to the majority of the country: the yellow zones.
A serious oversight, but not uncommon for ‘The Local’. I agree with the immediate previous comment. This news feed is often amateurish, slapdash and unreliable.
Buck up your ideas. People are relying on you.