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The new rules, along with an existing curfew and other regulations already in place, seek to curb circulation throughout the country during the holiday period by limiting the number of gatherings.
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ROME, Italy – Italy on Thursday announced national travel restrictions for the Christmas holidays designed to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the European country first hit by the pandemic.
The new rules, along with an existing curfew and other regulations already in place, seek to curb circulation throughout the country during the holiday period by limiting the number of gatherings.
Earlier this year, a punishing lockdown of Italy’s 60 million residents helped control the outbreak, but the government is trying to avoid mistakes made during the summer after the lockdown was lifted, when the return of vacationers spurred a further increase in cases.
“If we let our guard down now, the third wave is just around the corner,” Health Minister Roberto Speranza told parliament on Wednesday.
Travel between the regions of Italy will be prohibited from December 21 to January 6, and people will not be able to travel outside of their own cities on December 25, 26 and January 1.
The decree includes the “strong recommendation” to avoid welcoming those who do not live together.
Other regulations to be signed later on Thursday are expected to impose a 10-day quarantine for those arriving in Italy from foreign countries, starting on December 20.
The measure is designed in part to prevent Italians from traveling to the ski slopes that are still open in neighboring EU countries.
The government is expected to maintain a color-coded risk-based system that imposes different levels of anti-coronavirus restrictions in different regions.
Bars and restaurants are expected to remain closed in the red or orange zone regions. A current 6 p.m. closure in the yellow zones may remain, as can a 10 p.m. curfew nationwide.
In the yellow zones, where restaurants are open but must close at 6 p.m., the government is debating whether to allow restaurants to serve lunch on Christmas Day and December 26.
Ski slopes are expected to be banned, as are cruises.
The Health Ministry reported 20,709 new cases and 684 deaths on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative figure to more than 1.6 million infections.
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