From Reuters:
“Italy shortens COVID curfew,
eases other restrictions”
(People sit at outdoor tables at
St. Mark's Square as Italy lifts quarantine restrictions for travellers
arriving from European Union countries, Britain and Israel and begins offering
COVID-free flights in a bid to revive the tourism industry, in Venice, Italy,
May 16, 2021.)
Italy's government on Monday
approved a decree pushing back with immediate effect a nightly coronavirus
curfew to 11 p.m. from 10 p.m. and easing other curbs in the regions where
infections are low. Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government agreed the curfew
would begin at midnight from June 7 and be abolished altogether from June 21 in
those areas, a statement said, in line with a plan to gradually relax
restrictions across the country. Italy, which has the second-highest COVID-19
death toll in Europe after Britain, has seen its daily deaths and cases decline
in recent weeks, and more people are being vaccinated. "The figures of the
last few months have imposed difficult, sometimes painful choices, but today
they give us reason for relief," said Health Minister Roberto Speranza.
As of Monday, some 8.8 million
Italians, or 14.8% of the population, have been fully vaccinated, while
slightly over 30% have received at least one shot. Italy has registered over
124,000 deaths linked to COVID-19 since its outbreak emerged in February last
year. But the daily toll has fallen steadily in recent weeks, with less than 100
fatalities reported on Sunday for the first time since October. Monday saw an
increase to 140 deaths. Late in April, the government reinstated a four-tier
colour-coded system, from white to red, to calibrate curbs in its 20 regions,
allowing bars and restaurants to serve clients at outside tables in the
low-risk yellow and white areas. Some 19 out of 20 Italian regions are
currently yellow, and one, the tiny Valle d'Aosta, is orange, the third-highest
risk level. None are currently deemed high-risk red, and six - including the
northern Veneto around Venice - will become white by the end of the first week
of June, a government source said. In low-risk white regions, no curfew will be
imposed and only face masks and social distancing will remain compulsory. The Cabinet
has also allowed restaurants to serve customers at inside tables for dinner as
of June 1, and is bringing forward the reopening of gyms to May 24 from June 1
in yellow and white regions. Mountain lifts will be allowed to reopen as of
Saturday. As part of an effort to boost summer tourism, Italy has scrapped
mandatory quarantine for visitors from the European Union, Britain and Israel
who test negative for COVID-19.
^ It’s great to see Italy open-up
to outside vaccinated visitors. ^
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