Italy will ease the curbs of the coronavirus from April 26 in many areas, the government said on Friday that warning is still needed to avoid the reversal of the reopening of many far-reaching activities.
Restrictions on business and movement took place most of this year in Italy, which has the seventh highest death toll in the world and still reports hundreds of deaths every day.
The current restrictions would expire in early May, and no decision has yet been made on replacing them.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi has set out a broad timetable for reopening following pressure from parties in his national unity administration, particularly the right-wing league.
“The government is taking a reasonable risk based on data that improves, though not dramatically,” Draghi said at a news conference.
Last month, with the increase in cases and hospitalizations, Italy disrupted the four-tier, color-coded system to calibrate the restrictions that apply in its 20 regions and enforced the stricter red or orange zones nationwide.
From 26 April, the lighter yellow and white zones will be restored where infection levels are low. In these areas, restaurants and bars can serve customers at tables outside and cinemas and theaters will be open again with the attendance limits.
“Our idea is to allow swimming pools in the air on June 15 and resume gym activities on June 1,” Health Minister Roberto Speranza told reporters.
Currently, three regions are red and 17 orange, with severe restrictions on business and movement. As the number of new cases gradually decreases, many of these hope to turn yellow when the color zone is reset.
Draghi said it was crucial that people strictly respect the rules of social renunciation and wear face masks to proceed with the reopening.
“It is based on the premise that people and institutions adhere to the rules so that this reasonable risk is successful,” he said.
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