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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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COVID-19 RULES

EXPLAINED: Has Italy still got any Covid rules in place?

Italy is blissfully free of Covid restrictions this summer - or is it? Here's what you need to know about the country's few remaining rules.

Published: 30 May 2023 13:20 CEST
EXPLAINED: Has Italy still got any Covid rules in place?

If you thought Italy’s Covid rules ought to have more or less expired by now, you’d be right – almost. 

There are essentially no travel restrictions, no vaccination or testing obligations, and very few situations in which people are required to mask up.

However, a few nationwide health rules do remain in place that are worth knowing about.

Here’s what they are.

Masks

One notable exception to Italy’s Covid rule relaxations is the continued requirement to wear a mask in parts of health and residential care facilities that house vulnerable or immunosuppressed patients.

This rule had been due to expire on April 30th, but was renewed by decree on April 29th and will remain in place until the end of the year.

READ ALSO: What to expect when travelling to Italy in summer 2023

That means if you work in such a facility or need to visit a friend or family member there, you should come equipped with a mask.

Under-6’s, people whose disability prevents them from wearing a mask, and carers for whom wearing a mask would prevent them from communicating with a disabled patient are the only exceptions.

Quarantine

Then there are the quarantine rules.

‘Italy still has quarantine rules?!’ you ask incredulously.

According to former health director Giovanni Rezza, who retired this May, the answer is yes.

It was Rezza who signed off on a health ministry decree dated December 31st, 2022 that established the country’s latest quarantine restrictions.

Tourists visiting Italy no longer face Covid-related restrictions, though rules may apply in some circumstances. Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP

That decree says that those who test positive but are asymptomatic must self-isolate for five days, or until they test negative at a pharmacy or health facility – whichever happens sooner.

Those who do experience symptoms should either test negative before exiting quarantine, or wait until they are symptomless for at least two days.

At the end of the isolation period, those who have left quarantine without taking a test are required to wear a high-grade FFP2 mask in public until the tenth day since the onset of symptoms or first positive test result.

READ ALSO: What are the upcoming strikes in Italy and how could they impact you?

People who have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid should wear an FFP2 mask in public until the fifth day since the last point of contact.

Earlier this month, Rezza told journalists at the national broadcaster Rai that since no expiration date was stipulated, the decree remains in force indefinitely.

The health ministry doesn’t appear to have weighed in on the matter, so for now it should be assumed that the quarantine rules are still active.

Of course, this all relies on the honour system, as most Covid tests these days are taken (if at all) in people’s own homes without the knowledge or involvement of state health authorities.

Travel

Finally, there have been some recent reports of new international travel restrictions specifically relating to China.

There has been talk of Italy’s airports reintroducing tests for arrivals from China. Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP.

Towards the end of May, newspapers La Stampa and La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno reported that Covid tests had been reintroduced at Italy’s airports for arrivals from China, which has seen an uptick in cases.

However, neither the health ministry website nor the Foreign Ministry’s Viaggiare Sicuri (‘Travel Safe’) website appear to have published any updates to this effect.

In December 2022, Italy’s health ministry mandated that all arrivals from China must produce a recent negative test result before leaving for Italy and to take a test on arrival, though this rule was due to expire at the end of January.

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