Italy’s New Restrictions: What Changes Due to the Latest Emergency Decree (November 4, 2020)

On November 4, 2020, Giuseppe Conte, the Italian Prime Minister, signed a new Emergency Decree to tackle the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The new order will be effective from the 6th of November until the 3rd of December 2020.

The daily rise in the number of positive Covid-19 cases and the increasing number of intensive care hospitalizations forced the Italian government to take new actions.

The latest decree imposing further restrictions is aimed at containing a second wave of contagion in Italy. It is issued just after other emergency orders were announced on October 13, 18, and 24.

The main novelty is that it classifies the various regions of Italy into 3 risk categories: green, orange, and red zones, depending on the level of risk, namely the spread of infections and the situation relating to hospital capacity in each area. As of today, the following Italian provinces have been put into the red zone: Lombardy, Piedmont, Valle d’Aosta and Calabria.

The new restrictions in the whole of Italy

 Restrictions on the movement of people – the so-called “curfew” – from 22:00 until 5:00;

Return to self-certification: in order to leave the house after 22:00 it will be necessary to produce a valid self-certificate (for work or for health reasons); Download the PDF form here: modello autodichiarazione;

  Closure of museums and exhibitions;

  High school will maintain distance learning. Primary schools and kindergartens will remain open, and kids will keep going to schools in-person;

On weekends medium and large shopping centers will be closed, except for pharmacies, grocery stores, tobacco and newsstands;

 Public transport, as well as the regional railways, will be operating at a maximum 50% capacity;

Bars and restaurant will be closed at 18:00 (restaurant can be opened on Sundays for lunch);

 It remains strongly recommended for everyone not to travel throughout the day, whether by public or private transport, except for work, study, first necessity or health reasons.

The restrictions in the red zones (Lombardy and Lake Como) 

Lombardy (and Como province) are among the hardest hit in this second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic. According to the new government decree, Lombardy has been placed into the third risk category (the red zone). The red zone imposes more severe restrictions.

Here are the measures that will come into effect in Lombardy and Lake Como from November 6, 2020:

Moving around regions

It will be forbidden to move out of the region of your residence, from one municipality to another. Travel to other regions will be banned, except for justifiable reasons, i.e., work, health issues, or extraordinary circumstances.

Moving around municipalities

It will be forbidden to travel, whether by public or private transport, to a municipality other than that of your residence, domicile or dwelling, except for proven work, study, or health reasons, for situations of need or to conduct activities or use services not suspended and not available in the municipality of residence.

Restaurants and bars

Restaurants, bars, cafes and pastry shops will be closed; they can only provide take-away services. The food from these establishments can be consumed at home but not at the establishments.

Shops and shopping malls

All types of shops and shopping malls will be closed. Except for pharmacies, grocery stores, tobacco, newsstands and shops for basic necessities. Food markets are also closed.

Outdoor activity

Exercising is allowed not far from home, maintaining social distancing.

Cultural sites

Museums, theaters and exhibitions will be closed.

Hairdressers and beauty salons

Hairdressers will remain opened. Beauty salons will be closed.

Schooling

Hight schools will remain closed and continue to run distance learning. Middle schools will also be closed and re-introduce distance learning.

Self-certification (autodichiarazione)

Return to self-certification: in order to leave the house in the red zone it will be necessary to produce a valid self-certificate (for work, first necessity or for health reasons); Download the PDF self-certification form here: modello autodichiarazione.

Industrial activities 

Factories and manufacturers will remain opened. 

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