Update: Milan is in the Covid-19 Red zone, (for Easter) what now?

Updated 02/04/2021:

Lombardy classified as Red Zone from March 15 and over the Easter holiday until April 6, 2021.

Unlike the previous round of “red zone” lockdowns where hairdressers and businesses could remain open, this time around all commercial activities that are considered “non-essential” have been closed. Restaurants and other commercial retailers can provide “take away and delivery services.”

From 15 March to 2 April 2021

•  orange zone – Abruzzo, Basilicata, Lazio, Liguria, Molise, Sicily, Sardinia, Umbria, and to the Autonomous Province of Bolzano;
•  red zone – Calabria, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont, Puglia, Tuscany, Valle d’Aosta, Veneto and the Autonomous Province of Trento.

April 3, 4 and 5, 2021 during the Easter Holiday ALL of Italy will be designated as a “red zone”

Regarding travel and visiting during the holiday weekend; on 3rd, 4th and 5th April 2021, a maximum of two people can visit another private home in the same region. Movement is limited to once a day, between 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM to/from the destination. The person or two people may accompany children under 14, as well as disabled or non self-sufficient others living with them.

Color codes (updated 02/04/2021)

Milan is in the Red zone, what now?

Milan in Lombardy has been classified as Red, a high alert area.

RED ZONE MEASURES

Curfew

Curfew remains. From 10pm to 5am throughout Italy it is forbidden to leave your home except for work or warranted reason such as health or medical reasons. During the day it is recommended to not travel or use public or private means of transport, except for work, study, or for health/medical purposes or necessity or to use services which have not been suspended (pharmacies, supermarkets, etc.)

Local Travel & Transportation

Travel is prohibited except for warranted reasons such as work or for health. You will need a self-signed certificate stating where and why you are out and about.

Travel for work or other warranted reasons between provinces and communities is allowed with the self-signed certificate. Travel outside of a Red Zone is prohibited.

Public transport will remain operational and allow 50% capacity and no more than 80%. 

Stores & Businesses

• All retail stores will be closed except food, pharmacies, newsagents and tobacconists. Non-food markets will be closed. 
• All shopping centers, malls and outlets will be closed.
• Bars, pubs, restaurants, ice cream parlors, pastry shops will also be closed: except for take-away and home delivery which is allowed up to 10 pm (national curfew).
• Hairdressers and beauticians will remain closed.
• Museums and galleries are closed.
• Gaming, Bingo and Betting halls are closed.
• Industrial and commercial production may continue to do business, provided that all anti-covid protocols are respected. 
• Hotels and hotel restaurants are open to guests traveling for business.

Schools

Nursery schools and elementary schools are closed (private services and support for children with disabilities remain active). Distance /online learning is mandatory for nursery, elementary, middle school, high school and universities. Children older than six years of age are required to wear masks in class.

University curricular activities, internships and exams may continue in person provided that regulations and protocols are followed.

Higher education (AFAM) in dance, music, and theatre training may continue in person provided that regulations and protocols are followed.

Sport

Individual sport practice outdoors such as cycling, walking, jogging, individual yoga is allowed provided that you stay near your home. You must wear a mask and keep a one-meter distance from other people. 

Parks and public gardens will remain open. 

Amateur and team sports have been suspended. Only events and competitions which are organized on a national or international level and recognized by national sport associations CONI and CIP are allowed. Events are to be held inside sports facilities behind closed doors or outdoors without the presence of the public.

Gyms, swimming pools, wellness centers, and spas are closed, as well as cultural centers, social centers and recreation centers, except for those defined as centers providing assistance, for example physiotherapy.

Travel

To travel during curfew hours or between regions, a self declaration stating a valid reason for being out and about are necessary.

Travel to meet friends and family is limited to 2 people with he exception of children under 14 or disabled family member.

Travel between regions is banned unless it is necessary or urgent such as for work or medical emergencies.

Travel to a second home is permitted provided that you can prove ownership. Temporary rentals are not permitted at this time.

Airline travel is operational but is limited and discouraged.

The ordinance, in force from March 31 to April 6, 2021 provides that on returning to Italy it is mandatory to:

• undergo a swab (molecular or antigenic) carried out within 48 hours before entering Italy, with a negative result;
• undergo health surveillance and fiduciary isolation for a period of five days, regardless of the result of the molecular or antigenic test referred to above;
• undergo a further molecular or antigenic test at the end of the five-day isolation period.

These provisions do not apply to those who fall under the conditions of exemption as set out in Article 51(7) Dpcm March2,2021. See the Exemptions section.

There is an obligation to communicate to the Department of Prevention of the relevant health authority in the region of entry, as well as the obligation to complete a self-declaration form. Refer to the page: Covid-19 Toll free numbers and regional information

There are limitations in case of transit or stay in List D and/or List E countries during the 14 days prior to entry into Italy.

Learn more here: http://www.salute.gov.it

Cruise and passenger ships have been suspended. Foreign-flagged cruise ships are permitted to enter Italian ports exclusively for the purpose of ‘idle’ parking. 

All health measures may be susceptible to change and modification.

 GET UPDATES

Stay up to date on new Easy Milano articles by clicking “Allow” on our notifications bar, follow our Facebook Page , sign up for the Easy Milano newsletter.

---

What to do if you suspect you have Covid-19:

• call your family doctor
• call the toll free Covid-19 hotline 1500
• find a covid-19 testing center near you*
  
  **Covid-19 testing is covered by the public health system if you have a referral from your family doctor. Private testing is also available in hospitals and clinics.

For Covid-19 information and national updates consult the Italian Ministry of Health website

Article by Anthony Ryan, Easy Milano

You may also be interested in:

Living in Italy: Can I get a Covid-19 Vaccination?

---

---

PAST UPDATES (January 17, 2021)

Lombardy classified as Red Zone from January 17 to January 31, 2021.

Roberto Speranza Ministry of Health, announced that due to the Covid pandemic more restrictive regulatory measures are to be implemented in the Lombardy region.

Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardy Region has expressed his disagreement witht he Ministry of Health. “We do not agree with the decision to include Lombardy in the red zone, so if this ordinance should arrive, we will propose an appeal. “I am asking Minister Speranza to reconsider.”

The Dpcm* identifies three areas: yellow, orange and red corresponding to the different levels of criticality in the regions of the country.
*Dpcm = Decreto del Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri (Presidential Decree)

• Yellow, moderate criticality
• Orange, medium to high criticality
• Red, high alert

At a glance:

• Italy has been color coded according to COVID-19 risk factors
• Milan in Lombardy is in the Red zone, a critical high alert area
• A night curfew has been instated and during the day you need a self-declaration certificate stating your reason for being out.
• The new decree will remain in effect from Sunday January 17 to Sunday January  31.

Much like the red zone regulations that were instated in November, gyms, sport centers, theatres, museums and beauticians will be closed.
Restaurants remain closed but can offer takeaway and delivery services until 10pm. All other retail locations redeemed ‘non-essential’ remain closed for the exception of the retailers listed in the new DPCM amendment 16/01/2021 (see below).

Schools from nursery to first year middle schools will hold classes in person, whereas schools from second year middle school and up will hold classes via remote learning.

Curfew will be enforced from 10pm to 5am. During the day, travel and transit between communities, provinces and regions are restricted. Transit for work, school, and essential travel should be documented with a self signed declaration certificate.

Which stores remain open under new DPCM annex 16/01/2021?

Retailers of these categories may remain open under new DPCM amendment 16/01/2021:

– non-specialized businesses with food and beverage products (hypermarkets, supermarkets, food discount stores, minimarkets and other non-specialized shops of various foods)
– frozen food products
– non-specialized shops selling computers, peripherals, telecommunications equipment, audio and video consumer electronics, household appliances
– food products, beverages and tobacco in specialized stores (ateco codes: 47.2), including those specialized in the sale of electronic cigarettes and inhalation liquids
– automotive fuel in specialized stores
– IT and telecommunications equipment (ICT) in specialized stores (ateco code: 47.4)
– hardware, paints, flat glass and building materials (including ceramics and tiles) in specialized stores
– cleaning, sanification products
– machines, equipment and products for agriculture and gardening
– books for skilled professions
– newspapers, magazines and weekly publications
– stationary and office supplies
– children and baby clothing and footwear
– lingerie, socks
– sporting goods, bicycles and leisure items in specialized stores
– motor vehicles, motorcycles and related parts and accessories
– games and toys in specialized stores
– medicines in specialized stores ( pharmacies and other specialized stores of non-prescription medicines)
– medical and orthopedic articles in specialized exercises
– cosmetics, perfume and herbal remedies in specialized stores
– flowers, plants, bulbs, seeds and fertilizers
– domestic animals, food and supplies for pets in specialized stores
– optics and photography
– fuel supplies (for domestic use and for heating)
– soaps, detergents, polishing and related products
– funeral and cemetery items
– market vendors: food products and drinks, fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, flowers, plants, bulbs, seeds and fertilizers, perfumes and cosmetics, soaps, detergents and other cleaners, linens, children and infant clothing and footwear
– sales via internet, television, mail order, radio, telephone
– automatic vending machines

Read full list in Italian here.

Services of these categories may remain open under the DPCM amendment 16/01/2021:

– Laundry and cleaning of textiles and fur articles
– industrial laundries
– Other laundries, dry cleaners
– Funeral services and related activities
– barber and hairdresser salon.

Read full list in Italian here

As Prime Minister Conte explained during his original speech describing the color coded tier system, the assignment of these risk categories may be susceptible to changes during the evolution of the epidemic curve and will always be adequate and proportionate to it. The inclusion of the Regions in the various areas will be determined by order of the Minister of Health and will depend exclusively on the risk coefficient reached in each Region. 

The official Italian Government website Governo.it states, “The coefficients are determined according to criteria of objectivity through a combination of various parameters resulting from the periodic monitoring carried out jointly by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, the Ministry of Health and the representatives of the Regions and shared with the Technical-Scientific Committee.”

---

Related Posts:

---

Archive:
Lombardy in the red zone:
A previous version of this article was published Nov 6, 2020)

(update Nov 4, 2020)

Italy’s new colors: Yellow, Orange, and Red
New Guidelines and Health Decree starting Nov. 6, 2020

(update Nov 4, 2020) Currently, according to the Ordinance of the Minister of Health of 4 November , the following regions are colored coded as:

• Yellow area : Abruzzo, Basilicata, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Marche, Molise, Provinces of Trento and Bolzano, Sardinia, Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto.
• Orange Area : Puglia, Sicily.
• Red area : Calabria, Lombardy, Piedmont, Valle d’Aosta.

In efforts to curb the second wave of the recent COVID-19 upsurge, Italy will have a new color code classification system that will classify the Covid-19 criticality of each region. Red, Orange or Yellow will indicate what kind of lockdown or shelter in place restrictions will be implemented. Color codes are assigned by the government and Minister of Health and will depend on the degree of risk and local statistics reported in each region.

The New Dpcm, Nov. 4, 2020

On the evening of Wednesday, November 4, the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, illustrated in a press conference the new measures to combat and contain the Covid-19 emergency contained in the Presidential Decree of November 3, 2020 and in force from November 6 .

---