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Covid-19 rules For Members

MAP: The Italian regions becoming Covid 'orange' zones in January

Karli Drinkwater
Karli Drinkwater - [email protected]
MAP: The Italian regions becoming Covid 'orange' zones in January
Milanese wearing protective masks enjoy the nice winter weather close to the Sforza castle in centeral Milan on January 13, 2021. - Italy's health minister announced on January 13, 2021 a partial reopening of museums, while most other coronavirus restrictions were due to be extended, measures that would apply only to less-infected "yellow" regions, while "respecting all social distancing measures". Italy, which has recorded nearly 80,000 deaths from the pandemic, has had colour-coded regional virus restrictions since November, when all the museums were shut. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP)

Some of Italy's regions are showing worsening health data, pushing them closer to a higher-risk 'orange' zone. Here are the areas that could soon face tighter anti-Covid measures.

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As Italy's infection rates continue to soar and pressure on hospitals increases week-on-week, some regions face becoming a moderate-risk 'orange' zone.

There are currently over 2 million positive cases in Italy, while numbers continue to grow with over 100,000 new infections recorded on Monday.

As most of Italy's regions and autonomous provinces have now lost their lowest-risk 'white' zone classification, with 15 now classed as 'yellow' zones, some are on the brink of tighter restrictions again and risk turning 'orange'.

READ ALSO: What changes about life in Italy in January 2022

Four regions looked close to the mark last week, but their health data hadn't worsened significantly enough by Friday, when Italy's health ministry reviews the latest figures and decides which restrictions should be applied to each area from the following Monday.

Under this system, ‘white’ zones are under the most relaxed rules, and ‘yellow’, ‘orange’ and ‘red’ zones are under increasingly strict measures.

As of January 10th, no regions are in the ‘orange’ or ‘red’ zone.

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To move into an 'orange' zone, a region or autonomous province must record a Covid incidence rate of 150 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, combined with 20 percent ICU and 30 percent general ward Covid patient occupancy.

There can be some flexibility on these parameters, however, as the government has discretionary powers to place an area into a higher restriction tier even if the thresholds aren't exceeded. Likewise, a region could keep its lower tier status when they have, but it provides an overall guide of how an area is faring.

Here's a map of the regions that could become 'orange' over the coming weeks. The 'yellow' and 'white' zones are current and show regions less likely to move into the higher restricted category.

Looking at the latest (January 12thfigures from Agenas, Italy’s National Agency for Health Services, the northern region of Piedmont almost looks certain to lose its 'yellow' zone status, with 24 percent ICU occupancy and 33 percent recorded for general admissions.

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Calabria has already met the threshold with 20 percent ICU admissions and 38 percent for ordinary Covid patients.

The numbers are constantly growing in Sicily and this region could also face tighter health measures from as soon as next Monday. As things stand on Wednesday, its ICU occupancy is 20 percent, while general admissions are 32 percent. Its incidence rate is 435.15.

Liguria, meanwhile, has met the threshold of 20 percent ICU occupancy and has stabilised at this figure for a few days. It has exceeded the quota for general Covid admissions at 38 percent.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia could also become an 'orange' zone this month, with its current 23 percent ICU occupancy already exceeding this threshold and 28 percent ordinary admissions approaching it.

Meanwhile, Marche is nudging further towards the parameters for an 'orange' zone, with 22 percent ICU occupancy and 25 percent ordinary hospital admissions.

The autonomous province of Trento is experiencing high ICU occupancy at 30 percent currently, meaning it could become 'orange' in the next few weeks. Its general Covid patients are still under at 21 percent though.

Valle d'Aosta still has some room before it hits the ICU threshold with 18 percent occupancy, but its general admissions have far exceeded the parameters at 46 percent.

EXPLAINED: What are the rules in Italy’s Covid ‘orange’ zones?

Should these regions become 'orange' zones, little will change for vaccinated people, as most venues and activities will remain open and accessible to those with Italy's 'super green pass' health certificate that shows the bearer is vaccinated against or recovered from Covid.

From January 10th, the 'super green pass' is required to access all public transport and most leisure venues across the country including in 'white' zones, effectively meaning a nationwide lockdown for those who are unvaccinated (or aren't recovered from Covid).

Those who have a 'basic green pass', obtained via a negative test result, will no longer be allowed to attend concerts and events that involve gatherings, will be banned from indoor restaurants and bars, places where cultural events take place, as well as parties and occasions that involve gatherings.

Local authorities can decide to impose stricter rules at short notice. Always check the latest restrictions in your province or town: find out how here.

For further details about Italy’s current Covid-19 health measures please see the Italian Health Ministry’s website (available in English).

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Anonymous 2022/01/12 10:13
Hi If a region enters an orange zone will restaurants become take-away only and regional travel banned?
  • Karli Drinkwater 2022/01/12 10:47
    Buongiorno, In orange zones - bars and restaurants require customers to show a ‘super green pass’ to eat at the counter and to sit both indoors and outdoors. This rule applies throughout Italy. In ‘orange’ zones, the super green pass will be compulsory for food service, both indoors and outdoors and for those staying in hotels. You can find more rules about 'orange' zones here: https://www.thelocal.it/20220105/what-are-italys-new-rules-for-covid-orange-zones/
Anonymous 2022/01/12 08:34
Strange, I thought Sicily was now yellow? According to this: https://www.thelocal.it/20220107/map-which-italian-regions-become-yellow-zones-from-monday/
  • Karli Drinkwater 2022/01/12 10:46
    Hi Paul, Thanks for getting in touch! This map has been updated as of Wednesday to reflect Sicily's latest data and is now shown as 'orange'. Sicily risks moving into an 'orange' zone from Monday: https://www.thelocal.it/20220112/four-italian-regions-risk-becoming-a-covid-orange-zone-from-monday/

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