MAP: Which zone is your region in under Italy’s tier system?
A tiered system divides Italian regions into red, orange, yellow and white zones depending on coronavirus risk. Find the latest classification here.
*Please note this article is no longer being updated. See the latest reports on the coronavirus situation in Italy here. For Italy's new lockdown rules in each region, click here.*
Under Italy's current emergency decree, a national tiered framework means some Covid-19 rules differ based on where you are in Italy.
Regions are divided into red, orange, yellow and white zones, under a system based on how severe the coronavirus situation is locally.
People in the highest-risk red zones are told to stay within their town, and are only allowed to leave for work, study, health or other urgent reasons.
The regional rules first came into effect on November 6th, and the classification is now revised weekly on Fridays based on the latest health data.
Under the latest emergency decree, the government stated that the changes will come into effect on Mondays, rather than Sundays as has been the case previously.
READ ALSO: Regional restrictions to continue as Italian PM signs new emergency decree
On Friday March 5th Italy's health minister signed the latest ordinance moving two more regions into the orange zone and one into the red zone.
This means that from Monday, March 8th, Italy's regions are classified as follows:
- Yellow zones:Calabria, Lazio, Liguria, Puglia, Sicily, Valle d'Aosta
- Orange zones: Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont, Tuscany, Autonomous province of Bolzano, Autonomous province of Trento, Umbria, Veneto
- Red zones: Basilicata, Campania, Molise (Local lockdowns are also in place in some towns and provinces.)
- White zones: Sardinia
See below for more details of the restrictions in each area.
Note that in addition to the regional classifications, many towns and provinces have declared their own additional restrictions. See the current list here.
What are the rules?
Here's an overview of the main rules in each zone, according to the Italian health ministry.
White zones
Regions classified under this band are exempt from most restrictions in other zones, including the 10pm curfew and 6pm closing time for bars and restaurants.
However, the final set of rules in place in each region varies depending on the local authority.
In Sardinia's case, the regional governor signed an ordinance stating that the evening curfew has been moved back to 11.30pm, and that restaurants must close at 11pm instead of 6pm. Bars must close at 9pm.
Health Minister Roberto Speranza stressed that those living in white zones would need to continue "respecting all social distancing measures".
Yellow zones:
Residents can circulate freely in their own region, including between towns, but may not leave the region except for work, health, emergencies or other essential reasons.
A nightly curfew applies from 10pm to 5am; you should only leave the house during these hours for essential reasons. Police can stop you and ask you to fill in a self-declaration form.
Bars, cafes, restaurants and all other food businesses are open and can serve customers on the premises until 6pm
All shops are open, though malls and outlet centres must close at weekends.
Museums can open.
From March 27th, cinemas and theatres can reopen.
Nightclubs, bingo halls and casinos remain closed.
Gyms and pools remain closed.
Schools can conduct up to 75 percent of lessons in person, with the rest taking place remotely.
Orange zones:
According to the Italian health ministry, people in orange zones are not allowed to travel from one municipality (town) to another, unless for essential reasons, by either public or private transport.
Bars, cafes, restaurants, pastry shops and other food businesses are closed.
Home delivery is still allowed, and takeaway is permitted until curfew at 10pm.
Museums and art galleries are closed.
All shops can remain open.
Hairdressers and beauticians can remain open.
Visits to the homes of family and friends outside your municipality are not allowed.
You can leave your municipality to visit your second home.
Red zones:
In red zones, all the orange zone rules apply, plus:
In addition to not being allowed to travel from one municipality to another, people in red zones are not allowed to move around within their own area unless for essential reasons, by either public or private transport.
You can only enter or leave an orange or red zone for the same urgent reasons.
All schools in red zones are closed.
Shops are to close except for those deemed essential, which include supermarkets and other food shops, tabacchi, and pharmacies.
Hairdressers and beauticians are closed.
Visits to relatives and friends are not allowed, even within your own municipality,
Travel to second homes is also prohibited in red zones.
All team sports activities are suspended (solo exercise such as running or walking is allowed.)
How are the rules decided?
Italy's Health Ministry decides which region is in which zone based on the advice of its Technical Scientific Committee (CTS), effectively bypassing regional authorities - many of which have said they were against a local lockdown or other tough measures.
The CTS takes 21 indicators into account, including each region's Rt number (which shows the transmission rate) as well as factors like hospital bed capacity and whether local health authorities are able to successfully trace the source of outbreaks.
Note: Local restrictions can vary, and are subject to change. Here’s where to find the latest updates from your local authority.
Please note The Local is not able to advise on specific situations. For more information please see the Italian Health Ministry's website (in English).
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See Also
*Please note this article is no longer being updated. See the latest reports on the coronavirus situation in Italy here. For Italy's new lockdown rules in each region, click here.*
Under Italy's current emergency decree, a national tiered framework means some Covid-19 rules differ based on where you are in Italy.
Regions are divided into red, orange, yellow and white zones, under a system based on how severe the coronavirus situation is locally.
People in the highest-risk red zones are told to stay within their town, and are only allowed to leave for work, study, health or other urgent reasons.
The regional rules first came into effect on November 6th, and the classification is now revised weekly on Fridays based on the latest health data.
Under the latest emergency decree, the government stated that the changes will come into effect on Mondays, rather than Sundays as has been the case previously.
READ ALSO: Regional restrictions to continue as Italian PM signs new emergency decree
On Friday March 5th Italy's health minister signed the latest ordinance moving two more regions into the orange zone and one into the red zone.
This means that from Monday, March 8th, Italy's regions are classified as follows:
- Yellow zones:Calabria, Lazio, Liguria, Puglia, Sicily, Valle d'Aosta
- Orange zones: Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont, Tuscany, Autonomous province of Bolzano, Autonomous province of Trento, Umbria, Veneto
- Red zones: Basilicata, Campania, Molise (Local lockdowns are also in place in some towns and provinces.)
- White zones: Sardinia
Note that in addition to the regional classifications, many towns and provinces have declared their own additional restrictions. See the current list here.
According to the Italian health ministry, people in orange zones are not allowed to travel from one municipality (town) to another, unless for essential reasons, by either public or private transport.
Bars, cafes, restaurants, pastry shops and other food businesses are closed.
Home delivery is still allowed, and takeaway is permitted until curfew at 10pm.
Museums and art galleries are closed.
All shops can remain open.
Hairdressers and beauticians can remain open.
Visits to the homes of family and friends outside your municipality are not allowed.
You can leave your municipality to visit your second home.
Red zones:
In red zones, all the orange zone rules apply, plus:
In addition to not being allowed to travel from one municipality to another, people in red zones are not allowed to move around within their own area unless for essential reasons, by either public or private transport.
You can only enter or leave an orange or red zone for the same urgent reasons.
All schools in red zones are closed.
Shops are to close except for those deemed essential, which include supermarkets and other food shops, tabacchi, and pharmacies.
Hairdressers and beauticians are closed.
Visits to relatives and friends are not allowed, even within your own municipality,
Travel to second homes is also prohibited in red zones.
All team sports activities are suspended (solo exercise such as running or walking is allowed.)
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