Covid-19: All of Italy expected to be under 'white zone' rules by mid-June
Four more regions will turn 'white' next week, the Italian health ministry confirmed on Friday, with the rest of the country expected to follow later this month.
Based on the latest health data, the Italian regions of Abruzzo, Liguria, Umbria and Veneto will be in the low-risk white zone from Monday June 7th, the health ministry stated.
The latest weekly coronavirus monitoring report from the health ministry and the Higher Health Institute (ISS) on Friday confirmed Italy's coronavirus numbers had continued to fall for another week.
READ ALSO: What changes about life in Italy in June 2021?
The national average Rt reproduction number had dropped to 0.68 from 0.72, it said.
"Abruzzo, Umbria, Liguria and Veneto for the third consecutive week have under 50 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants and from Monday they are in the white zone," said ISS head Silvio Brusaferro at a press conference.
"If the trend continues like this, by the second week of June all of Italy will be in the white zone," he added.
He said there had been an "immediate" fall in the contagion curve and the number of cases after the vaccine rollout gathered pace recently.
CHARTS: How many people has Italy vaccinated so far?
Most, if not all, regions have long been expected to be downgraded this month if the situation continues to improve.
The regions moving into white zones will be able to drop the last remaining restrictions, and reopen indoor restaurants and bars, fairs, theme parks, conferences and indoor swimming pools and hold weddings 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.
For now, nightclubs and discos are still suspended and it is not known if or when Italy may relax the rules on wearing masks outdoors.
The regions of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Molise and Sardinia were the first to be placed under white zone rules earlier this week.
On Tuesday, cafes and restaurants in all regions were allowed to serve customers indoors once again and sports stadiums reopened to the public as rules were eased further.
Italy on Friday reported 2,557 new cases and 73 more victims. The test positivity rate was 1.1%.
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Based on the latest health data, the Italian regions of Abruzzo, Liguria, Umbria and Veneto will be in the low-risk white zone from Monday June 7th, the health ministry stated.
The latest weekly coronavirus monitoring report from the health ministry and the Higher Health Institute (ISS) on Friday confirmed Italy's coronavirus numbers had continued to fall for another week.
READ ALSO: What changes about life in Italy in June 2021?
The national average Rt reproduction number had dropped to 0.68 from 0.72, it said.
"Abruzzo, Umbria, Liguria and Veneto for the third consecutive week have under 50 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants and from Monday they are in the white zone," said ISS head Silvio Brusaferro at a press conference.
"If the trend continues like this, by the second week of June all of Italy will be in the white zone," he added.
He said there had been an "immediate" fall in the contagion curve and the number of cases after the vaccine rollout gathered pace recently.
CHARTS: How many people has Italy vaccinated so far?
Most, if not all, regions have long been expected to be downgraded this month if the situation continues to improve.
The regions moving into white zones will be able to drop the last remaining restrictions, and reopen indoor restaurants and bars, fairs, theme parks, conferences and indoor swimming pools and hold weddings 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.
For now, nightclubs and discos are still suspended and it is not known if or when Italy may relax the rules on wearing masks outdoors.
The regions of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Molise and Sardinia were the first to be placed under white zone rules earlier this week.
On Tuesday, cafes and restaurants in all regions were allowed to serve customers indoors once again and sports stadiums reopened to the public as rules were eased further.
Italy on Friday reported 2,557 new cases and 73 more victims. The test positivity rate was 1.1%.
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